Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded Children's Research Institute a Project Grant of $654,005 under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242) beginning June 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. The project, titled "Function of the Paralaminar Amygdala from Adolescence to Adulthood," will generate foundational neuroscience research investigating how late-maturing neurons in the amygdala's paralaminar nucleus contribute to healthy social-emotional development during the critical transition from adolescence to early adulthood. The research will employ mouse models to examine how paralaminar neuronal responses change developmentally, establish the necessity and sufficiency of these neurons in this transition, and elucidate the role of inhibitory neurotransmission in their maturation and function.

The anticipated intellectual products include peer-reviewed publications, mechanistic insights into amygdala plasticity, and experimental data that advance understanding of neurodevelopmental processes relevant to autism spectrum disorders and behavioral consequences of early life stress. This foundational research addresses critical gaps in knowledge about the neurobiological substrates underlying adolescent brain development and will inform future therapeutic approaches to mental health disorders associated with amygdala dysmaturation.