The Johns Hopkins University received a $9,921,938 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242). The award is focused on understanding the impact of the olfactory system on higher brain function and schizophrenia. Key research objectives include:
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Defining how olfactory epithelium (OE) perturbation, such as chronic local inflammation, elicits neuronal alterations in the OE and olfactory bulb that result in behavioral deficits.
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Determining the circuitry mechanisms linking OE pathology to the prefrontal cortex via the olfactory-prefrontal circuits, and identifying critical developmental periods vulnerable to OE influences.
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Characterizing OE pathology at the molecular and cellular levels in early-stage schizophrenia patients, stratifying patient groups based on specific mechanisms, and elucidating how OE pathology impacts negative symptoms and cognitive deficits through the olfactory-prefrontal circuits.
The project involves collaborations with sub-awardees Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc., the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, and the University of Pennsylvania's Clinical Practices. This 5-year award commenced on April 15, 2024.
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