Tuesday, January 13, 2026 1/13/2026

The role of subcortical inputs to the hippocampal CA3 region in fear memory

Award Number: R01MH129294
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2027

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The role of subcortical inputs to the hippocampal CA3 region in fear memory - PROJECT ABSTRACT The hippocampus is essential for memory formation and spatial navigation. In the classic hippocampal trisynaptic circuit (entorhinal cortex→dentate gyrus→CA3→CA1), dentate gyrus and CA1 act as the primary input and output areas, respectively, that connect the hippocampus with the brain areas outside of the hippocampus. By contrast, CA3 is often viewed as an auto-associative network vital for contextual learning via its intra-hippocampal connections. While CA3’s intra-hippocampal inputs and outputs, including mossy fibers from dentate gyrus, recurrent collaterals from CA3, and Schaffer collaterals to CA1 have been extensively studied, the connections between CA3 and other subcortical areas remain largely unexplored. This proposal aims to fill this critical gap of knowledge by investigating the functional connectivity and behavioral roles of subcortical-to-CA3 inputs. Our preliminary experiments revealed that two subcortical areas outside of the hippocampus – basolateral amygdala and supramammillary nucleus in the hypothalamus – excite and inhibit CA3 pyramidal neuron activity, respectively. We will, therefore, test a central hypothesis that basolateral amygdala and supramammillary nucleus promote and suppress contextual fear learning by enhancing and suppressing the activity of CA3 pyramidal neurons, respectively. In Aims 1 and 2, we will determine whether a selective population of neurons in basolateral amygdala and supramammillary nucleus excite and inhibit CA3 pyramidal neuron activity in vitro and in vivo, respectively. In Aim 3, we will determine the role of basolateral amygdala-CA3 and supramammillary nucleus-CA3 inputs in contextual fear memory. The proposed studies represent a significant shift of focus from traditional research on CA3’s intra-hippocampal connectivity to its extra-hippocampal connectivity. Furthermore, as impairments of CA3, basolateral amygdala, and supramammillary nucleus are strongly associated with many neuropsychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), depression, chronic stress and epilepsy, this proposal will provide a valuable knowledge base for future studies to explore the role of these three interconnected regions in disease.


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 = $394,752 )
2026	2026	CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY	10900 EUCLID AVE	CLEVELAND	OH	44106	CUYAHOGA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	12/15/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$394,752
														Subtotal = $394,752

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $394,935 )
2025	2025	CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY	10900 EUCLID AVE	CLEVELAND	OH	44106	CUYAHOGA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	9/18/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$59,241
2025	2025	CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY	10900 EUCLID AVE	CLEVELAND	OH	44106	CUYAHOGA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	11/25/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$335,694
														Subtotal = $394,935

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $395,118 )
2024	2024	CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY	10900 EUCLID AVE	CLEVELAND	OH	44106	CUYAHOGA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	11/1/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$355,606
2024	2024	CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY	10900 EUCLID AVE	CLEVELAND	OH	44106	CUYAHOGA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	8/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$39,512
														Subtotal = $395,118

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $395,301 )
2023	2023	CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY	10900 EUCLID AVE	CLEVELAND	OH	44106	CUYAHOGA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	12/15/2022	NEW	$395,301
														Subtotal = $395,301

Grand Total All Awards = $1,580,106

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The role of subcortical inputs to the hippocampal CA3 region in fear memory

Award Number: R01MH129294

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2027

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