# Novel Developmental Pathways Underlying Psychiatric Disorders

> **NIH NIH R01** · HUNTINGTON MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES · 2020 · $385,576

## Abstract

Abstract
The cerebral cortex is essential for integration and processing of information that is required for
most behaviors. Correct functioning of the cerebral cortex necessitates the concerted assembly
of circuits involving glutamatergic projection neurons and GABAergic interneurons. The
exquisitely precise laminar arrangement of neurons, axon collaterals and dendritic processes
arises during embryonic development when neurons migrate successively from proliferative
ventricular zones to coalesce into specific cortical layers. While radial glia was identified as
substrates or guide rails for migration of projection neuron precursors to the cortical plate in the
early seventies, the substrate for GABAergic interneuron migration was a missing link. Our
recent work has shown that pre-formed vascular networks in the embryonic forebrain are
strategically positioned to fulfill the formidable task of providing support and guidance cues to
GABA neurons as they migrate from the subpallium to the developing cerebral cortex. This
application will examine this novel paradigm of endothelial cell-neuron interactions at detailed
cellular and molecular levels. It will elucidate the importance of new signaling mechanisms via
forebrain endothelial cells that were hitherto believed to be exclusively neuronal. It will examine
how alterations in these novel developmental pathways disturb hierarchical vascular patterns;
perturb neuronal migration and cortical organization. Results will illustrate a powerful impact on
cerebral cortex circuitry, blood flow and postnatal behavior with new significance for psychiatric
disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10156254
- **Project number:** 7R01MH110438-05
- **Recipient organization:** HUNTINGTON MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES
- **Principal Investigator:** Anju Vasudevan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $385,576
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2022-03-04

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10156254

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10156254, Novel Developmental Pathways Underlying Psychiatric Disorders (7R01MH110438-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10156254. Licensed CC0.

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