Sponsor or institution
Clinical trials and research at Lieber Institute, INC.
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 28 NIH-funded research projects at this institution, with $21.3 million in listed awards. Every study is explained in plain English. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov and NIH RePORTER, updated November 12, 2026.
- 28NIH research projects
NIH-funded research (28)
Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.
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Single-cell map of mood circuits in major depressive disorder
Researchers will map the tiny brain cells in mood-control areas to understand how genes and cell types relate to depression, with attention to ancestry and sex.
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Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and its effects on placenta and child development
This grant studies how COVID-19 infection during pregnancy might change the placenta and influence a child’s brain development, especially in kids who may be at higher genetic risk for ADHD/ASD.
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Understanding schizophrenia risk using patient-derived neurons and 3D brain models
This project tests how common genetic risk factors relate to brain cell behavior and clinical symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
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Understanding PTSD and depression from donated postmortem brain tissue with molecular analyses
This project looks at molecular differences in brains donated by people who had PTSD, major depression, or no psychiatric disorder to find biological clues about why some people develop chronic PTSD.
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Gene activity in the habenula of people with opioid addiction and depression
This work looks at which genes are active in a small brain region called the habenula to learn how it differs in people with opioid addiction, major depression, or both.
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How pigment and tau build-up in the brain's locus coeruleus change nearby gene activity
Researchers will map how pigment (neuromelanin) and tau protein build-up in a tiny brain center linked to Alzheimer's alter local gene activity in brain tissue from people with and without Alzheimer's.
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New molecules to boost D5 dopamine receptor signaling in the brain
Researchers are creating drug-like molecules that specifically boost the D5 dopamine receptor to help thinking and memory problems in people with psychiatric and neurological disorders.
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Single-cell map of mood-regulating brain regions in depression
Researchers will make a detailed cellular map of key brain areas that control mood to find molecular changes linked to major depression and how these vary by ancestry and sex.
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Mapping tiny habenula brain cells linked to opioid exposure
Researchers will map how specific habenula brain cells change after long-term opioid exposure to better understand opioid use disorder.
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How COVID-19 during pregnancy might affect the placenta and your baby's early brain development
This project looks at whether having COVID-19 while pregnant changes the placenta and raises the chance of developmental problems in babies, especially for boys and those with genetic risk.
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Investigating the genetic and cellular mechanisms of schizophrenia using patient-derived neurons and organoids.
This study is looking at how genes and brain cells work together in people with schizophrenia by creating special brain models from their own cells, to help us understand how these factors affect their symptoms and thinking skills.
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Mapping where genes are active in brain reward areas
Researchers are mapping which genes are active in key brain reward regions to help explain addiction, PTSD, and depression.
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Investigating brain signals related to attention and performance in tasks.
This study is looking at how well people and animals can stay focused over time, especially if they have certain brain disorders, and it will test how different things, like medication, can help improve attention.
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Understanding PTSD through brain analysis after death
This study is looking at the brains of people with PTSD and depression to understand why some folks struggle with PTSD after a traumatic event while others bounce back, and it’s for anyone interested in how our brains might be different when it comes to these conditions.
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Understanding how gene expression in the habenula affects opioid addiction and depression
This study is looking at how certain genes in a part of the brain called the habenula, which helps control our mood and motivation, might be linked to opioid addiction and depression, with the goal of finding better ways to treat these issues.
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How aging and disease affect gene expression in a specific brain region related to Alzheimer's.
This study is looking at how certain proteins in a part of the brain that helps with mood and attention change as people get older and develop Alzheimer's disease, so we can better understand how these changes affect thinking and feelings.
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Understanding how specific brain cells influence social recognition
This study is looking at how specific brain cells help us recognize familiar and new social situations, which could help us understand how our brains work when we interact with others.
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Mapping gene expression in the human brain related to neuropsychiatric disorders
This study looks at how genes work in different parts of the brain in people with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and autism, using brain tissue samples to find patterns that might help us understand these disorders better.
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Understanding how TCF4 affects brain function in Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome
This study is looking at how changes in the TCF4 gene affect brain function in people with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, a type of autism, and it hopes to find ways to help improve brain activity using a special protein.
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Understanding how TCF4 mutations affect brain cell development in autism.
This study is looking at how changes in a specific gene can affect important brain cells that help with nerve insulation, which could help us understand Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome better and find new treatments for it.
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Developing targeted compounds to enhance D5 receptor activity for cognitive improvement
This study is looking at new ways to help people with neuropsychiatric disorders improve their thinking and memory by creating special medications that focus on a specific brain receptor, which could lead to better treatments with fewer side effects.
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How maternal COVID-19 infection affects baby brain development
This study is looking at how COVID-19 in pregnant women might affect the placenta and, in turn, the brain development of their babies, with the goal of finding ways to help prevent any potential developmental issues in children born to moms who had the virus.
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Mapping gene expression in brain areas related to addiction and mental health
This study is looking at how certain genes work in important parts of the brain that are linked to addiction and mental health issues like PTSD and depression, with the goal of helping us understand what happens in the brain when these problems occur.
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Mapping brain circuits to understand opioid addiction.
This study is looking at how long-term use of opioids changes certain brain areas that help us feel rewards, especially in a part called the habenula, and it aims to find out how these changes might be similar in both rodents and humans to help us better understand addiction.
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Investigating how brain circuits affect attention in Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how certain parts of the brain work together to help us pay attention, especially in people with Alzheimer's and other brain-related conditions, to find new ways to improve their focus and thinking skills.
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Understanding schizophrenia through patient-specific genetic mutations
This study is looking at how certain gene changes might play a role in schizophrenia by creating special cells from patients, which will help researchers learn more about how these genes affect brain development and could lead to better ways to understand and treat the condition.
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Understanding how the human brain changes with age
This study looks at how a part of the brain important for learning and memory changes as we get older, focusing on older adults to see how these changes might affect their thinking and emotions.
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Understanding how RNA interacts with proteins in chromatin
This study is looking at how RNA and certain proteins work together to control gene activity, which could help us understand more about diseases and development.
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