The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded a 1-year, $169,500 Project Grant (CFDA 93.242 - Mental Health Research Grants) to Weill Medical College of Cornell University to identify the downstream transcriptional targets of the neural protein FOXP1. The project aims to elucidate the cell-type specific binding and regulatory functions of FOXP1 in human cortical neural progenitor cells and neurons. Through a combination of genome-wide binding analysis and RNA sequencing in wildtype and FOXP1-deficient cells, the research will determine whether FOXP1 acts primarily as a transcriptional repressor or activator during brain development. The insights gained are expected to inform future efforts to establish an in vitro model of FOXP1 syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe language impairment, motor delays, and autism symptoms. This work aligns with NIMH's mission to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research.