Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Activity-Dependent Circuit Integration of Somatostatin Interneuron Subtypes in the Developing Neocortex

Award Number: F31NS135903
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2027

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Activity-Dependent Circuit Integration of Somatostatin Interneuron Subtypes in the Developing Neocortex - Project Summary The mammalian cortex consists of many transcriptionally distinct neuronal cell types connected in intricate circuits. Much work has shown that risk genes associated with developmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy and intellectual disorder encode synaptic proteins enriched in cortical interneurons (cIN). However, not much is known about how cINs integrate into cortical circuits during development. Thus, understanding how this process occurs will allow us to understand how the cortex develops in both healthy and pathophysiological states. Early studies used electrophysiological and morphological analysis to define four cardinal classes of interneurons with varying levels of heterogeneity within those classes. More recent advances in single-cell, spatial and combinatorial transcriptomic techniques have uncovered an even wider breadth of diversity. The somatostatin (SST) class is of particular interest because they are enriched in infragranular layers of the cortex yet display highly specialized targeting of pyramidal neuron dendrites. This requires them to extend their axons across multiple layers to connect to their synaptic partners. Their role in routing feedback inhibition suggests that they influence dendritic computations in pyramidal neurons (PNs) by regulating information flow. Proper maturation of cortex requires SST interneurons to successfully integrate into cortical circuits, yet the cellular and subcellular specificity in efferent targeting of SST interneuron subtypes is currently unknown. The molecular and genetic tools that have been generated and validated in our lab has positioned me to utilize slice physiology, immunohistochemistry and viral labeling methods to not only investigate the specificity in SST subtype connectivity, but also to evaluate how this arises in development. As yet, it is unknown whether SST efferent targeting is initially specific or refined across development. Furthermore, recent work has shown that SST interneurons transiently target PV interneurons during development and that this is instructive to the formation of PV microcircuits. Thus, it is likely that SST circuit integration is dynamic across development. Therefore, I also aim to determine how SST efferent specificity arises and whether transient connectivity’s exist across development. However, the study of the assembly of cortical microcircuits must consider developmental activity, as much work has uncovered the dependance of interneuron maturation and circuit integration on intrinsic activity. Given the incredible advances in transcriptomics clarifying the diversity within the SST interneuron class, and the viral and transgenic tools that now exist to target, label and manipulate specific cortical neuron subtypes, we are now well positioned to assess the role of developmental intrinsic activity on synaptic specificity. Thus, in my final set of experiments, I will determine the role of developmental activity in SST circuit integration and the critical period for this activity in proper synaptic maturation of SST subtype-specific microcircuits. The project that I have proposed is designed to fill the gap in knowledge of how SST subtypes integrate and function in specific microcircuits and lay the foundation for future mechanistic studies.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $37,996 )
2026	2026	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	25 SHATTUCK ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	1/28/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$37,420
2026	2026	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	25 SHATTUCK ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	3	3/31/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$576
														Subtotal = $37,996

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $37,420 )
2025	2025	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	25 SHATTUCK ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	7/21/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$37,420
														Subtotal = $37,420

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $42,957 )
2024	2024	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	25 SHATTUCK ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	1	12/15/2023	NEW	$0
2024	2024	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	25 SHATTUCK ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	12/15/2023	NEW	$41,677
2024	2024	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	25 SHATTUCK ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	002	1	5/7/2024	NEW	$1,280
														Subtotal = $42,957

Grand Total All Awards = $118,373

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Activity-Dependent Circuit Integration of Somatostatin Interneuron Subtypes in the Developing Neocortex

Award Number: F31NS135903

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2027

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer