Sunday, December 7, 2025 12/7/2025

BAF complex inhibitors in neuronal development and functions

Award Number: R21MH128678
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

BAF complex inhibitors in neuronal development and functions - PROJECT SUMMARY Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are becoming more prevalent among our children at an alarming rate. Recent genome-wide studies suggest a strong correlation between NDDs and loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding subunits of the BAF (alias, mSWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex. Despite such strong correlative evidence, the precise role(s) of the BAF complex in neurodevelopmental gene transcription remains largely unexplored, in part, due to lack of efficient chemical/pharmacological tools to disrupt BAF function. In response to the NIH funding opportunity titled, ‘Discovery of Cell-based Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets’, this project will further develop and test a promising group of BAF inhibitors in maturing rat cortical neurons and use these inhibitors to probe the function of these chromatin remodeling complexes in neuronal activity-induced gene transcription, a key molecular driver of neuronal maturation. Specific aims of this project are: 1) Chemically modify ‘hit’ molecule BAFi to increase potency in neuronal cells, and 2) Determine the role of BAF complex in neurodevelopmentally important activity-induced gene transcription. The project will be conducted simultaneously in two laboratories with long standing expertise in –respectively– development of small molecule inhibitors of chromatin remodelers (the Dykhuizen laboratory at Purdue university; aim 1) and activity-induced neuronal gene transcription (the Saha laboratory at University of California, Merced; aim 2). Taken together, this study will generate valuable chemical tools to study BAF complex functions and deeper insights into epigenetic mechanisms driving normal neurodevelopment, which will fill in the knowledge gap between BAF mutations and their outcomes, such as NDDs.


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 = -$22,980 )
2026	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED	5200 N LAKE RD	MERCED	CA	95343	MERCED	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	11/18/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$22,980
														Subtotal = -$22,980

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $228,786 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED FOUNDATION	5200 N LAKE RD	MERCED	CA	95343	MERCED	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	5/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$228,786
														Subtotal = $228,786

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $204,124 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED	5200 N LAKE RD	MERCED	CA	95344	MERCED	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	5/27/2022	NEW	$204,124
														Subtotal = $204,124

Grand Total All Awards = $409,930

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

BAF complex inhibitors in neuronal development and functions

Award Number: R21MH128678

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer