Saturday, December 13, 2025 12/13/2025

Cell-type basis for auditory processing in the inferior colliculus

Award Number: R01DC020887
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/09/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2027

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Cell-type basis for auditory processing in the inferior colliculus - Project Summary As a major hub of the central auditory system for hearing, the inferior colliculus (IC) receives both bottom-up input from auditory brainstem nuclei, as well as feed-back input from the auditory cortex (AC). IC contributes importantly to the processing of essential features of sounds for communication and localization. Impaired IC processing has been associated with various hearing deficits. However, despite extensive studies of central auditory processing in IC, our understanding of cell-type-specific circuit mechanisms underlying the functional roles of the IC remains limited. In particular, how different types of neurons in the three anatomical and functional subdivisions of IC, the central nucleus (ICc), dorsal cortex (ICd), and external cortex (ICe), interact with each other and contribute differentially to the auditory processing of IC remains largely unclear. Addressing this question requires identification of molecular markers for cell types specifically located in each of the subdivisions. With 10X Genomics single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq), we made initial efforts in screening molecular markers for different neuronal populations of IC. By identifying and verifying specific markers for IC subdivisions and exploiting corresponding transgenic Cre mouse lines for the selected marker genes, we will then characterize the anatomical connections and auditory response properties of the selected cell type and its functional role in auditory processing functions. Our preliminary snRNAseq results suggest two potential molecular markers specifically labeling subpopulations of excitatory neurons in the IC cortex. Their verification will endow us with unique opportunities to investigate the specific and diverse functional roles of ICd in auditory perception and behavior. Cutting-edge approaches in electrophysiology, anatomy, and optogenetics coupled with intersectional or projection-based tagging will be applied to address the differential functional contribution of diverse neuronal types in ICd as well as the distinct underlying circuitry mechanisms.


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 = $483,769 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	12/5/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$483,769
														Subtotal = $483,769

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $546,084 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	3	5/6/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$54,608
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	1/27/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	11/21/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$491,476
														Subtotal = $546,084

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $546,084 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	11/17/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$491,476
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	5/7/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$54,608
														Subtotal = $546,084

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $588,584 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	12/9/2022	NEW	$588,584
														Subtotal = $588,584

Grand Total All Awards = $2,164,521

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Cell-type basis for auditory processing in the inferior colliculus

Award Number: R01DC020887

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/09/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2027

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