# Silvio O. Conte Center for Stress Peptide Advanced Research, Education, & Dissemination (SPARED) at McLean Hospital

> **NIH NIH P50** · MCLEAN HOSPITAL · 2021 · $2,716,065

## Abstract

SUMMARY: SPARED CENTER
The Silvio O. Conte Center for Stress Peptide Advanced Research, Education, & Dissemination (SPARED) at
McLean Hospital will combine world-renowned preclinical and clinical researchers in the field of stress biology
to comprehensively examine, compare, and contrast the neurobiological effects of CRF (Corticotropin-Releasing
Factor) and PACAP (Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide), two peptides with well-validated roles
in the biology of stress-related conditions. Genetic alterations in these systems render people more vulnerable
to stress, administration of either peptide mimics key stress effects, and both systems are altered by stress.
Their high degree of conservation across species suggests that each regulates equally important—yet subtly
different—aspects of stress responsiveness. Indeed, a major difference revealed by animal models is that the
stressful effects of PACAP system activation tend to be more persistent than those of CRF system activation.
The scientific elements include complementary molecular, cellular, circuit, physiologic, and behavioral measures
in mice and humans, as well as detailed hypothesis testing in postmortem brain samples obtained from
individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and healthy controls. To complement the science, the
Center will also support a broad range of training and educational activities, including expansion of outreach
programs as well as social media approaches to engage scientists and lay-persons. Our overall Aims provide
the basis for synergy that will transform this work from a collection of individual projects into a cohesive Center
where each element enriches, and is enriched by, the activities of the others, serving as a resource that benefits
the scientific community and beyond. Aim 1 (Collaboration) is to bring together leading researchers who are
committed to understanding stress and reducing its health burdens by combining new insights on biology with
cutting-edge technologies, and establish a framework that enables sustained collaboration in the service of
advancing discovery and innovation. Aim 2 (Investigation) is to use a multidisciplinary, RDoC-compatible
approach to conduct high-impact research that transforms our mechanistic understanding of CRF and PACAP
systems to facilitate the development of improved diagnostics and therapeutics for a range of DSM-defined
disorders that are caused or exacerbated by stress. Aim 3 (Outreach) is to implement unique and impactful
approaches that enhance education, training, and career development for future generations of translationally-
oriented stress researchers. Aim 4 (Innovation) is to use information and internet technologies to transform
collaboration, investigation, and outreach to achieve broad communication of Center-related activities, including
sharing of educational materials and strategies, nimbly disseminating news, and making available data sets.
Pursuit of these goals will establ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10116474
- **Project number:** 5P50MH115874-03
- **Recipient organization:** MCLEAN HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** William A. Carlezon
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,716,065
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2024-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10116474

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10116474, Silvio O. Conte Center for Stress Peptide Advanced Research, Education, & Dissemination (SPARED) at McLean Hospital (5P50MH115874-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10116474. Licensed CC0.

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