The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded a $885,500 Project Grant (CFDA 93.242 - Mental Health Research Grants) to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to investigate the neural circuits that regulate social approach and avoidance behaviors. The project will use the novel Fast Light and Calcium-Regulated Expression (FLICRE) system to identify and genetically characterize specific cell types in the nucleus accumbens and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis that are active during social interaction. The research team will then functionally define these cell types using optogenetic manipulations to test their causal role in modulating social behaviors. This work aims to provide new insights into the neural underpinnings of social anxiety disorder, which affects approximately 40% of individuals who do not respond to existing treatments. The grant period began on July 3, 2024, and is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2026.
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