Priority Research Questions in Fundamental Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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Topic Description

Post Date: September 29, 2025

Expiration Date: September 15, 2027

Fundamental neuroscience encompasses a broad area of research interests and levels of study. While NIH actively supports all these areas, the current topic is focused on the areas of cellular and molecular neuroscience. These areas represent gaps in our understanding of the subcellular and molecular architecture of neurons and glia, their dynamic interactions, and the tools and/or resources required to interrogate them in vivo. 

Areas of research interest include but are not limited to:

  • Macromolecular Cartography: A detailed, dynamic map of protein complexes and functional units within neurons and glia to understand mesoscale organization (approximately 10nm–1μm resolution). Of particular interest are tools which advance the analysis of subsets of proteins within functional units to determine how molecular organization enables function, and the dynamics and physiological state-dependence of molecular interactions in vivo.
  • Molecular Turnover and Plasticity: Quantitative spatiotemporal tools to measure protein and molecule stability in neurons and glia both temporally and spatially, turnover, and function across lifespan and cellular contexts.
  • Developmental Cellular Dynamics: Tools and frameworks to better visualize nervous cell migration and cell-cell interactions in neurodevelopmental processes in vivo. Some of the many possible examples of these processes include axon and dendrite function, apoptosis and the formation of the blood brain barrier.
  • Metabolic and Lipid Signaling: Development of in vivo sensors to study metabolism and lipid dynamics critical for cell signaling and structural integrity in neurons and glia.  

Central Scientific Contact:
Crystal Lee, Ph.D.
[email protected]

Participating ICOs

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) encourages investigator-initiated, interdisciplinary, and technology-driven research proposals that address the above foundational questions. The Fundamental Neuroscience Working Group (FNWG) of the NINDS advisory council identified these research areas as critical knowledge gaps and opportunities in FN. This includes embracing exploratory science, enabling non-traditional models, and fostering team science that incorporates engineering, chemistry, and biophysics. While NINDS continues to encourage FN research at all levels of study, including complimentary efforts to understand circuits via the BRAIN Initiative, by focusing on cellular and subcellular neuroscience, NINDS intends to catalyze innovation in this area, ensuring the health of the basic neuroscience research ecosystem and enhancing our mechanistic understanding of nervous system function.

ICO Scientific Contact:
Crystal Lee, Ph.D.
[email protected]

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering supports technology development to transform our understanding of disease and its prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. NIBIB interest in this topic is in advancing novel in vivo imaging and sensor technologies that enable dynamic and high-resolution visualization of tissue function and structure across different scales. Areas of interest include:

  • Optical imaging technologies for in-vivo imaging of neural tissues (brain) from sub-cellular to tissue scale.
  • Novel quantum sensors that enable in-vivo detection and longitudinal monitoring of neuronal firing patterns specific to certain cellular populations with unprecedented spatial precision.
  • New generations of fluorescent and/or acoustic reporter proteins and biosensors.
  • Fluorescent and/or bioluminescent agents for imaging synaptic messenger molecules.
  • New contrast agents for metabolic imaging.
ICO Scientific Contact:
Tatjana Atanasijevic
[email protected]

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIDA is interested in advancing the understanding of the neurobiology at the cellular, molecular, and system levels. Areas of interest include: 

  • neuroadaptations
  • intracellular mechanisms
  • changes in expression and function of enzymes, receptors, and signaling pathways that impact central nervous system (CNS) circuit activity
  • cellular processes underlying behavior and pathology

NIDA also supports studies on mechanisms of cellular resilience, repair, and adaptation to physiological or pathological challenges. Innovative tools, models, and experimental approaches are encouraged to investigate synaptic plasticity, organelle dynamics, cellular stress responses, neuroimmune interactions, and other molecular or cellular mechanisms that shape neural development, connectivity, and function.

ICO Scientific Contact:
Anne Tsai
[email protected]

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) supports basic neuroscience research to understand the processes underlying cognitive, affective, and social domains of function. NIMH is interested in mapping the heterogeneity ­­of molecular organization at the cellular/subcellular level and how it shapes the function of different neural cells. Development of new methods to address these questions, including for commercialization through SBIR/STTR funding, is encouraged. Areas of interest include:

  • Molecular mechanisms underlying non-canonical neural cell-cell communication (e.g., co-transmission, neuromodulation, gliotransmission, extracellular vesicles, matrix signaling)
  • Dynamic molecular and cellular regulation across development and in response to neural activity, experience, or disease-relevant perturbations
  • Bridging data across model systems to delineate evolutionary-developmental relationships that distinguish conserved versus human-specific brain functionality
ICO Scientific Contact:
Jamie Driscoll
[email protected]

Christina Liu
[email protected]

Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)

The areas of interest of the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research in the Office of Research on Women’s Health (OADR-ORWH) include:

  • Sex-specific differences in molecular organization that affect protein complex formation, cell function, apoptosis, and metabolism.
  • Developing spatiotemporal tools to measure molecular stability, turnover, and function with a focus on sex-specific differences
  • Understanding sex influences on immune interactions with neurons, glial cells, myelin formation and development, and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier. 

This office does not award grants. Applications must be relevant to the objectives of at least one of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers listed in this topic. 

ICO Scientific Contact:
Elena Gorodetsky, M.D., Ph.D.
[email protected]

Victoria Shanmugam, MBBS, MRCP, FACR, CCD
[email protected]

National Eye Institute (NEI)
ICO Scientific Contact:
Charles Wright, Ph.D.
[email protected]

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