This federal Project Grant award from the National Eye Institute (NEI), under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867), provides $562,660 over 5 years to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) to identify novel molecular and circuit targets for inducing neuromodulatory changes that mediate plasticity during the juvenile critical period for visual cortex development. The research aims to examine the contribution of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor signaling in deep layer somatostatin-expressing interneurons on triggering ocular dominance plasticity, as well as the role of these interneurons in modulating inhibitory circuits to promote juvenile-like visual cortex plasticity. This work leverages advanced genetically-engineered mouse models, electrophysiology, optogenetics, and chemogenetics to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying neuromodulatory mechanisms. The findings from this Project Grant award have the potential to uncover novel therapeutic strategies for restoring visual function in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders and brain trauma.
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