This $396,250 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242) supports research to understand the regulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor activity by protein/protein interactions. The research aims to investigate the specific pairing of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7) and the extracellular leucine rich repeat and fibronectin type III domain containing 1 (ELFN1) protein, which has been linked to ADHD and seizures in humans. Key objectives include testing small molecule modulators of mGluR7 activity in the presence and absence of ELFN1, conducting a pilot high-throughput screening campaign, and evaluating the pharmacological profiles in native tissue preparations. This research could generate novel assays, selective tools to modulate specific interneuron subtypes, and improve understanding of mGluR7/ELFN1 biology, which may have implications for treating conditions like schizophrenia, autism, and epilepsy.
Generated 3/18/25, 3:36 AM