# The Impact of Thalamocortical Axon Refinement on the Development of the Prefrontal Cortex

> **NIH NIH F30** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2024 · $51,696

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Aberrant development of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), including the axonal connections it receives, are hallmarks
of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders (NDDs). Foundational studies have shown that axons
that project to the PFC, particularly from thalamic nuclei, influence PFC development and function. Notably,
these axons are often disrupted in NDDs. We hypothesize that aberrant thalamocortical connectivity seen in
these disorders results from abnormal axon pruning, which in turn leads to deficits in PFC maturation and
function. To test this hypothesis, I will use a novel mouse model to inhibit axonal pruning in this circuit and
determine its role in PFC development. I will use a combination of neural tracers, genomic, and molecular
analysis to quantify axon pruning within the thalamocortical circuit to determine whether its disruption in our
mouse models affects critical aspects of PFC development including lamination, neuronal number, interneuron
migration, and electrical activity. This proposal, undertaken with the intellectual support of the Tri-Institutional
research community and guidance of a mentorship team, will address a significant gap in understanding of how
axon refinement regulates normal cortical development and can lead to cortical dysfunction seen in NDDs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10826871
- **Project number:** 1F30HD114477-01
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Rina Leah Davidson
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $51,696
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-03-18 → 2028-03-17

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10826871

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10826871, The Impact of Thalamocortical Axon Refinement on the Development of the Prefrontal Cortex (1F30HD114477-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10826871. Licensed CC0.

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