Channels, Synapses and Neural Circuits

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Scientific Area of Research


Channels, synapses, and neural circuits are fundamental structural and functional elements of the nervous system. Detailed and integrated knowledge of these elements is essential for understanding how the nervous system works under normal and abnormal conditions. In recent years, remarkable progress and exciting discoveries have been made in the basic research in these areas; only few of them, however, have been directly connected to mechanisms underlying the causes of numerous neurological disorders. The major goals of our program are 1) to continue to support the ongoing basic and clinical research; 2) to foster research on particular channels, synapses, and neural circuits that have immediate medical relevance; and 3) encourage translational research that links the discoveries from basic research into medication development and therapeutic interventions for treating neurological disorders, such as epilepsy.

Current Funding Announcements


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Funding announcement information is updated daily throughout the NINDS website. If individual funding announcements are not listed below, it means that there are no current solicitations available for this particular Program Area. Please continue to check this web page for the latest RFA's, PA's, RFP's and Notices related to this Program Area.

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Additional Information


Mission Statement

  • The CSC cluster initiates and promotes basic, translational and clinical research in channels, synapses, and neural circuits that underlie normal brain functions and dysfunctions related to neurological disorders, such as epilepsy and muscular dystrophy.

To advance the program in channels, synapses, and circuits, we will:

  • Expand the structural analysis of neuronal membrane proteins, (e.g. ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and transporters) to the atomic level by promoting crystallography of prokaryotic and critical domains of eukaryotic membrane proteins, and other high resolution structural studies of non-crystallized membrane proteins
  • Stimulate research on channelopathies and their relationship to neurological diseases (e.g., identifying physiological and pathological roles of membrane proteins by combining molecular biology, electrophysiology, genetically-engineered animal models, and behavioral tests)
  • Foster studies on molecular and cellular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity, especially on neurotransmission-related proteins, and dendritic research
  • Promote neural circuit analysis by using improved in vitro electrophysiological recordings, and other innovative approaches such as novel genetic methods to map functional neuronal circuits.
  • Facilitate collaborations among researchers who are working at molecular, cellular and system levels to develop multidisciplinary approaches for analysis of channel, synapses and circuits
  • Facilitate collaborations among neuroscientists and computer scientists, informatics scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, electrical engineers, and physicists to develop neuroinformatics tools for data archival, retrieval, transfer, and sharing, and computational tools for data analysis and modeling
  • Facilitate collaborations among basic researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, and clinicians to identify biological markers and surrogate endpoints; to develop new diagnostic tools, drug delivery methods, and therapies, including conducting clinical trials
  • Create opportunities to train a new generation of multidisciplinary researchers in research in these areas

Quick Links


NINDS Epilepsy Information Page
Epilepsy Research Web
The "Benchmarks" For Epilepsy Research

Workshops and Summaries

Curing Epilepsy: Translating Discoveries into Therapies March 28-30, 2007
Workshop on Nonepileptic Seizures May 1-3, 2005
Proteomics in the Neurosciences December 9 - 10, 2002
Workshop on Channelopathies November 20-21, 2002
Curing Epilepsy: Focus on the Future March 30-31, 2000

Note: See Epilepsy Research Web for a complete listing of workshops

Personnel

Margaret Jacobs
Program Director, Extramural Research Program
mj22o@nih.gov

Randall Stewart, Ph.D.
Program Director, Extramural Research Program
rs416y@nih.gov

Edmund Talley, Ph.D.
Program Director, Extramural Research Program
talleye@ninds.nih.gov

Shai Silberberg, Ph.D.
Program Director, Extramural Research Program
silberbs@ninds.nih.gov

Christina Vert, M.S.
Program Analyst
vertc@ninds.nih.gov

Lynn Rundhaugen, M.P.H.
Program Analyst
lr235y@nih.gov

Address


Channels, Synapses and Neural Circuits
Neuroscience Center, Room 2110
6001 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892-9523
Courier: Rockville, MD 20852-9523
Phone: 301/496-1917
Fax: 301/480-2424