# Building the brain: How mechanical forces shape human neural development

> **NIH NIH DP2** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2020 · $392,500

## Abstract

Abstract:
 As the brain develops, proliferating cells organize into structures, differentiate, migrate,
extrude long processes and connect with other cells. These biological processes produce
mechanical forces that shape cellular dynamics and organ patterning. A major unanswered
question in developmental biology is how the mechanical forces produced during development
are detected and transduced by cells to impact the biochemical and genetic programs of
development. New biophysical approaches are required to answer this question. We aim to
uncover the mechanical dynamics underlying human neural development by generating new
molecular, imaging and bioengineering tools. We will measure and manipulate mechanical forces
at different timepoints of human brain organoid formation. These studies will provide quantitative
and mechanistic insights on the role of mechanical forces during development, and demonstrate
how development fails when they are disrupted.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10179706
- **Project number:** 3DP2AT010376-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Medha M Pathak
- **Activity code:** DP2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $392,500
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10179706

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10179706, Building the brain: How mechanical forces shape human neural development (3DP2AT010376-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10179706. Licensed CC0.

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