Offices & Programs

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.

Topics of research supported by the Channels, Synapses, and Neural Circuits cluster include neural circuit analysis, synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, structural analysis of neuronal membrane proteins, channelopathies, and epilepsy.  The cluster supports basic and translational research, as well as clinical trials, and facilitates multidisciplinary collaborations.

Neurological disorders may result when extra-neuronal cells are compromised, as in demyelinating and cerebrovascular diseases; when extra-neuronal cells themselves become aggressors, as in inflammatory responses within the nervous system; when cells of the nervous system become cancerous and form tumors; when viruses, bacteria, or parasites infect the cells of the nervous system; when autoimmune responses damage nerve and muscle; when cells of the blood-brain barrier are dysfunctional, or when glial dysfunction in the developing nervous system results in developmental abnormalities. Glial cells, microvascular endothelia, and cells of hematopoetic origin are integrally involved in the normal development and/or functioning of the nervous system and play a crucial role in disease. Emerging concepts on the interaction among all of these cells hold great promise for increasing our understanding of how the nervous system works in normal and diseased states, and will broaden our perspective on how we think about the nervous system.

The Neural Environment cluster promotes translating scientific knowledge into useful diagnostic tools, research on the implementation of preventive measures, and development and delivery of targeted therapeutic agents for neurological diseases.

Research areas supported by the Neural Environment:

The disease areas supported by Neural Environment cluster include: stroke,multiple sclerosis, CNS and PNS tumors, neuro-AIDS, prion diseases, CNS infections, tuberous sclerosis, and neurofibromatosis.  The Neural Environment cluster also supports several areas of basic neuroscience research including: glial cell biology, neuroimmunology, neurovirology, neural vascular biology, the blood brain barrier, and apoptosis.  Our grant portfolio spans basic and translational research, and some clinical trials.

Includes identifying the genes that cause neurological disorders. Includes collecting family data and applying molecular genetic methodologies for gene identification. Investigating the molecular mechanisms through which disease genes act. Includes using animal models and in vitro techniques for studying pathways of gene function. Developing gene-based therapeutics for neurological disorders. Includes gene therapy and pharmaceuticals targeted to specific gene products. Investigating the genetic basis of normal neural development and function. Includes genetically-based studies of neuronal patterning, migration, connectivity, and cognitive/behavioral function. Developing resources for neurogenetic research. Includes tissue and information registries, atlases of gene expression and function, and mutagenesis and phenotyping methodologies.

This Clinical Research section contains NINDS contact information, links to Federal policy statements, as well as links to a number of documents developed by NINDS to assist investigators in meeting NINDS and Federal requirements and in conducting clinical research of the highest quality. Information on the application process, pilot studies, planning grant, definitive/phase III clinical trials, NINDS policies, and guidelines for the study design, protocol outline, and monitoring are found here.

The Mission of the Office of International Activities (OIA) at NINDS is to identify significant global health issues, to seek opportunities, and to develop creative approaches promoting international research, training, and collaborations in neuroscience that are relevant to the Institute's mission.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) utilizes a variety of granting mechanisms to support training of researchers at all career levels.  Information on grant mechanisms available for trainees at different career stages, NINDS-specific requirements for each mechanism, helpful tips related to grant submission, and important announcements related to training can be found on the NINDS Training and Career Development Office website. Staff in the Training and Career Development Office at NINDS not only develop and maintain training support mechanisms but also advise applicants before, during and after submission of an application.  Training opportunities are available in basic, clinical and translational research, for individual and institutional applicants.

The mission of the Office of Translational Research is to facilitate the preclinical discovery and development of new therapeutic interventions for neurological disorders by:

• Supporting preclinical development from discovery candidate therapeutics through Investigational New Drug (IND) and Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) applications to the FDA
• Supporting the design, implementation, and management of research infrastructure activities that apply advanced research technologies to problems in neuroscience and neurology
• Supporting translational research projects and networks

Repair and Plasticity supports research in spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, recovery of function, plasticity of the nervous system, neural circuits that underlie specific behaviors, repair of the nervous system in injury and disease, stem cell biology, neural prosthesis, neuroengineering, and other means of repairing the nervous system in injury and disease.

• To understand mechanisms of plasticity in the healthy nervous system and explore implications for repair.
• To develop interventions to modify the course of injury and disease progression and improve functional outcome in individuals following injury to the nervous system.
• To understand the course of degeneration and repair following spinal cord injury and brain injury on timescales ranging from seconds to years.
• To understand the role of endogenous neurogenesis as well as stem and progenitor cell biology in the development and repair of the nervous system.
• To promote the development of neural prosthetic devices designed to restore function after neurological injury or disease.

The Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience cluster supports research focused on higher brain functions that underlie complex behavioral phenomena such as learning, memory, attention, language, cognition, emotion, sensation/perception, movement, the wakefulness-sleep cycle, response to pain, and feeding. These phenomena depend on the integrated functioning of neural circuits and systems. Funded research involves human or animal subjects or computer models of neural circuits.  Research methods include non-invasive imaging of brain structure and function (e.g., EEG, MEG, PET, MRI) and advanced methods for recording neural structure and function associated with specific cognitive and behavioral processes in vivo and in vitro.