Award
NIH Reporter #1R03MH139980-01A1
Exploring a role of microglia in developmental effects of early life adversity on PFC glutamate receptivity
Recipient
Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
Award Amount
$157,500.00
Ceiling
$157,500.00
Awarded
September 01, 2026
Identifier
1R03MH139980-01A1
The award funds research to explore how microglia contribute to developmental changes in the prefrontal cortex caused by early life adversity, potentially leading to neuropsychiatric disorders. The study uses animal models to examine microglial influence on NMDA receptor development and cognitive outcomes, aiming to inform future interventions.
Description
This project aims to identify a developmental role for microglia in the effects of early life adversity, focusing on vulnerability to later-life neuropsychiatric disorders involving prefrontal cortex dysfunction and neuroinflammatory signaling. The study investigates how early life adversity affects NMDA receptor development in adolescence and the role of microglial activity in this process, using maternal separation in rats as a model. The research includes testing microglial depletion effects and RNA sequencing to understand microglial developmental stages and transcriptomic changes related to synaptic refinement.