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

Examining the role of BDNF in the synaptic neuron-astrocyte program underlying genetic risk for schizophrenia

Award Number: K08MH143068
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/09/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2030

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Examining the role of BDNF in the synaptic neuron-astrocyte program underlying genetic risk for schizophrenia - PROPOSAL SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder with elusive genetic and neurobiological underpinnings, which have hindered the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics. Our recent single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex revealed a synaptic neuron and astrocyte program (SNAP) that elicits synchronized gene expression changes in neurons and astrocytes to coordinate synaptic function and astrocyte-synapse interactions. Notably, this concerted intercellular gene expression program was markedly reduced in schizophrenia. This proposal focuses on how SNAP is coordinated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which was unbiasedly nominated by our data and the latest schizophrenia genetic study implicating BDNF as a potential risk gene. Our preliminary findings reveal that BDNF directly regulates the neuronal module of SNAP, which was further supported by human genetic evidence showing that schizophrenia-associated variants are highly enriched not only near the BDNF locus but also around the loci of neuronal genes that are directly regulated by BDNF. Despite this growing body of evidence supporting BDNF’s role in orchestrating SNAP-n, critical questions remain as to how (a) declining cortical BDNF expression affects neural circuits connected to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, such as the striatum, (b) how BDNF expression is regulated in relation to SNAP and by genetic variants associated with schizophrenia, and (c) its role in orchestrating the astrocytic module of SNAP. Through advanced single-cell transcriptomic analyses and an innovative neuron-astrocyte co-culture system, this research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms linking BDNF to SNAP that will offer new insights into the genetic and cellular basis of schizophrenia pathology. This research forms the foundation of a four-year career development program designed to build upon my background in molecular genetics, functional genomics, and clinical psychiatry. This program will provide training in (1) data science related to advanced single-cell genomics and statistical genetics analyses, (2) cellular and molecular neuroanatomic studies using post-mortem human brain tissue, and (3) an in vitro neuron-astrocyte co-culture system to study synaptic neuron-astrocyte interactions. Under the guidance of my primary mentor, Dr. Steve McCarroll, and co-mentor, Dr. Sabina Berretta, along with my scientific advisory committee, Drs. Dost Öngür, Evan Macosko, and Ralda Nehme, I will receive exceptional mentorship in these specialized areas and in the rigorous conduct of translational neuroscience research. By the end of the award period, this training plan will position me to establish an independent career as a physician-scientist leading a translational psychiatric research program that integrates human genetics with single-cell biology, epigenomics and cellular and animal models to advance our understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of complex psychiatric disorders.


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 = $194,400 )
2026	2026	THE MCLEAN HOSPITAL CORPORATION	115 MILL ST	BELMONT	MA	02478	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	9/10/2026	NEW	$194,400
														Subtotal = $194,400

Grand Total All Awards = $194,400

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Examining the role of BDNF in the synaptic neuron-astrocyte program underlying genetic risk for schizophrenia

Award Number: K08MH143068

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/09/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2030

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer