Funded research

Here is a list of funding from SCAND Affiliates. 
Chris Cowan, Ph.D.
Transcriptional Regulation of Synapse Development in Intellectual and Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH111464), 2017-2022.
  • Goals of this grant are to study MEF2C in IDD-related behaviors, regulation of cortical E/I synapse balance and to examine the role and regulation of the common MEF2/FMRP target, PCDH17.
  • PI: Cowan, Christopher W.
Sleep and the Functional Genomics of Synaptic Modulation, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01 NS103422), 2017-2022.
  • Goals of this grant include analysis of MEF2-dependent cortical synaptic connectivity under conditions of sleep disruption.
  • PI: Greene, Robert (UTSW)
  • Subcontract PI: Cowan, Christopher W
Caitlin Hudac, Ph.D.
Evaluation of the underlying structure of adolescent social attention, National Institute of Mental Health (1R15MH124041) 2019-2023.
  • This project seeks to understand the discrete processes involved in social attention during adolescence.
  • PI: Hudac (Year 1-2); Transferred PI to Dr. Mengya Xia during Year 3
Linking brain and behavior: A GRIN2B Biomarker, GRIN2B Foundation
  • We aim to examine candidate electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers related to learning and behaviors in children with disruptive GRIN2B mutations.
  • PI: Hudac
SCN2A Biomarkers of Attention, 2019 Action Potential Grant from the FamiliesSCN2A Foundation 
  • We aim to link a promising electroencephalography (EEG) based candidate biomarker to clinical behaviors of children with disruptive SCN2A mutations.
  • PI: Hudac
​HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study at UAB and UA, National Institute on Drug Abuse (5U01DA055322), 2021-2026
  • Via a prospective longitudinal study targeting pregnant women and their infants, we will examine variability in outcomes and the effect of substance exposure in utero as well as other experiences in development and the interaction with genetic, biological and endocrine system.
  • UAB PIs: Peralta, Newsom; UA PIs: Yerby, Newman
  • Subcontract PI: Hudac (lead on EEG core) 
   BioGENE Study at the Simons Searchlight 2022 Family Meeting, Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, 2022
  • We will target ongoing patterns of learning (i.e., information processing) using electroencephalography (EEG) for participants (likely youth age 4-25 years, but no age restrictions) with identified rare genetic etiologies related to ASD, including CSNK2A1, HIVEP2, MED13L, and SETBP1.
  • PI: Hudac
Jane Joseph, Ph.D.
Neural Substrates of Emotion: Impact of Childhood Trauma and Cocaine Dependence, National Institute of Drug Abuse (5R01DA037968-02) 2015-2020
  • Social stress can lead to drug craving and relapse in cocaine-dependent (CD) individuals. In addition, CD individuals often favor drug use over social interactions. Moreover, social avoidance and lack of trust are significant obstacles to effective treatment.
  • PI: McRae-Clark, Aimee L
  • Co-Investigators: Joseph, Jane E
Walter Kaufmann, Ph.D.
APNEA Index as an Outcome Measure of IGF-1 Treatment in Rett Syndrome, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (7R03HD082561-02) 2014-2017
  • A major challenge facing the development of therapeutic treatments of many neurological and psychiatric disorders is the general lack of robust biomarkers and outcome measures that are suitable for assessing treatment efficacy across the entire patient population and throughout the patient’s lifespan.
  • PI: Kaufmann, Walter E
  • Co-Investigators: Poon, Chi-Sang
David Mott, Ph.D.
Muscarinic Modulation of the Basolateral Amygdala, National Institute of Mental Health (5R01MH104638-02) 2015-2020
  • Signaling through muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in the basolateral (BL) nucleus of the amygdala plays an essential role in the formation and extinction of emotional memory. Accordingly, in all mammals, including humans, the BL receives more robust cholinergic innervation than any other target of the basal forebrain. 
  • PI: Mott, David D
  • Co-Investigators: McDonald, Alexander Joseph
Fabienne Poulain, Ph.D.
Functions of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Axon Guidance and Degeneration, (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (5R00NS083714-05) 2015-2017
  • Precise organization of neuronal connections is crucial for processing information. A major challenge in neuroscience is to understand how these connections are properly established, and how errors in this wiring process can lead to psychiatric disorders like autism or schizophrenia.
  • PI: Poulain, Fabienne E
Functions of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Axon Guidance and Degeneration, (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (5R00NS083714-02) 2015-2017
  • Precise organization of neuronal connections is crucial for processing information. A major challenge in neuroscience is to understand how these connections are properly established, and how errors in this wiring process can lead to psychiatric disorders like autism or schizophrenia.
  • PI: Poulain, Fabienne E
Functions of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Axon Guidance and Degeneration, (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (4R00NS083714-03) 2015-2017
  • Precise organization of neuronal connections is crucial for processing information. A major challenge in neuroscience is to understand how these connections are properly established, and how errors in this wiring process can lead to psychiatric disorders like autism or schizophrenia.
  • PI: Poulain, Fabienne E
 Jane Roberts, Ph.D.
 Emergence, Stability and Predictors of Anxiety in Fragile X Syndrome, National Institute of Mental Health (1R01MH107573-01A1) 2016-2021
  • This NIH funded research is a longitudinal developmental study of the early features of anxiety in very young boys with FXS contrasted to boys diagnosed with ASD (non-FXS) and typical controls.  The aim is to determine which initial features of anxiety can be detected and the stability and prognostic value of these early symptoms to diagnostic categorization across two populations associated with ID and at high risk for anxiety.
  • PI: Jane Roberts
  • Co-Investigators: Amanda Fairchild, Frederick Shic, & Kim Hills
Emergence and Stability of Autism in Fragile X Syndrome, National Institute of Mental Health (2R01MH090194-06) 2016-2021
Extension of initial infant study to longitudinally track the onset of autism through preschool in fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and typical controls.
  • PI: Jane Roberts
  • Co-Investigators: John Richards, Svetlana Shinkareva, Kim Hills, Bridgette Tonnsen
Deanna Smith, Ph.D.
Examining the Role of the Lissencephaly Protein, LIS1, in Dynein-Based Transport, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (4R01NS056314-10) 2006-2018
  • Lissencephaly, an autosomal dominant brain malformation caused by mutations in the LIS1 gene, was the first neurological disorder linked directly to cytoplasmic dynein function. This discovery led the way for molecular dissection of events regulating development of the mammalian cerebral cortex.
  • PI: Smith, Deanna S
 Examining the Role of the Lissencephaly Protein, LIS1, in Dynein-Based Transport, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (5R01NS056314-08) 2006-2017
  • Lissencephaly, an autosomal dominant brain malformation caused by mutations in the LIS1 gene, was the first neurological disorder linked directly to cytoplasmic dynein function. This discovery led the way for molecular dissection of events regulating development of the mammalian cerebral cortex.
  • PI: Smith, Deanna S
Jeffery L. Twiss, M.D., Ph.D.
 Modifying intrinsic growth capacity through axonal mRNA translation. National Institute of Health/NINDS (R01NS041596-10) 7/14-6/19
  • The major goal of this grant is to determine functionality of axonal RNA localization elements in vivo and whether increasing axonal targeting of b-actin or GAP-43 mRNAs through altered 3’UTRs can be used to modulate axon growth. This grant includes collaboration with John Houle (Drexel Univ) as a subcontract.
  • PI: JL Twiss
Antagonistic roles of HuD and KSRP for mRNA stability in neuronal growth. National Institute of Health. NINDS. (R01-NS089633-01) 9/15-5/20  
  • This multi-PI award focuses on competition between HuD and KSRP for binding ARE-containing mRNAs and modulating developmental axon growth in the cortical and hippocampal neurons.
  • PI: JL Twiss and N Perrone-Bizzozero [Univ. NM]
Spinal cord injury, plasticity, and transplant mediated repair. National Institute of Health/NINDS (P01-NS055976-09) 4/13-3/18
  • The overall goal of this PPG award is to explore mechanisms of neural repair for spinal cord injury mediated by training and cell transplantation.  Twiss’s project in this PPG, Effects of the SCI microenvironment on intra-axonal signaling, focuses on effect of training and transplantation on intra-axonal signaling mechanisms that promote axonal growth.
  • PI: J Houle
  • Co-investigator: Jeffery Twiss, Principal Investigator for Project # 1
Targeting axon intrinsic mechanisms for supporting neural repair. Adelson Medical Research Foundation   
  • This award focuses on regulation of signaling that impacts localized mRNA translation during axonal regeneration after peripheral nerve injury.
  • PI: JL Twiss, Collaboration leader
Updated August 2023. This website is managed by rotating managers across the SCAND Consortium.