This Project Grant award from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), will support research into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying maternal behavior in mice. The $1,572,111 award to Baylor College of Medicine aims to elucidate the role of the TRPC5 ion channel in regulating maternal behaviors, such as pup retrieval and nursing, and to assess whether TRPC5 activators can improve impaired maternal behavior induced by psychological stress. The research will utilize genetically engineered mouse models and neuroscience techniques to investigate the links between TRPC5, oxytocin neurons, and dopamine neurons in the regulation of maternal care. This work builds on the researchers' prior identification of TRPC5 gene mutations associated with impaired maternal bonding in humans, providing a translational approach to understanding the molecular basis of normal and disrupted maternal behavior. The award has a performance period from September 2024 through June 2029.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $524.0k | 6/11/25 | ||
| Not listed | $524.0k | 9/12/24 | ||
| Not listed | $524.0k | 9/12/24 |