Award
Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs 5IK2BX006118-03
Identification of Brain Circuits Underlying Fear and Panic
Recipient
Iowa City VA Medical Center
Awarded
May 06, 2026
Identifier
5IK2BX006118-03
A VA-funded neuroscience research project studying brain circuits involved in fear and panic to develop PTSD interventions, while training Dr. Aubrey Chan as an independent physician-scientist.
Description
This project aims to understand the brain physiology underlying defensive responses related to PTSD by mapping and decoding neurophysiological signals across multiple brain sites in response to threat stimuli, using animal models and optogenetic manipulation. The goal is to find potential targets for intervention in PTSD treatment and to train Dr. Aubrey Chan as an independent VA physician-scientist.