# Molecular Tools Core

> **NIH NIH U19** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $583,871

## Abstract

Project Summary: Molecular Tools Core
 One of the major features of this BRAIN Initiative proposal on “Oxytocin Modulation of Neural Circuit
Function and Behavior” is this Molecular Tools Research Support Core. Each of the Project teams is examining
oxytocin release and the action of oxytocin receptor signaling. Oxytocin is exemplary among peptide hormones
and neuromodulators, has been studied in various forms for over a century, and has clear physiological action,
behavioral relevance, and biomedical importance. However, little is known about the cellular and network effects
of oxytocin signaling. This is in part due to lack of specific antibodies for determining which brain areas and cell
types express oxytocin receptors, as well as other molecular tools for specifically manipulating and monitoring
oxytocin signaling with high spatiotemporal precision. Our labs have generated, validated, and are distributing
the first specific antibodies to mouse oxytocin receptors, and have also developed the first successful versions
of caged oxytocin compounds. Given the successful use and enthusiasm by the scientific community together
with the need for continued validation and optimization, we feel obliged to scale-up production of these reagents
and improve their functionality. There is clearly urgent and widespread need for these resources, which are best
produced, tested, and distributed by a Core facility rather than by individual labs.
 Aim 1 of the Molecular Tools Core is to continue production of oxytocin receptor antibodies, distribute
these antibodies broadly, and optimize their utility and specificity including generation of monoclonal antibodies.
Aim 2 is to generate and optimize caged and photo-switchable forms of oxytocin receptor agonists and
antagonists, useful for delineating specifically when and where oxytocin receptor signaling acts to generate
physiological responses in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues. Aim 3 generates reagents for
click chemistry involving tagged oxytocin, to visualize oxytocin within fixed and live tissue, to help determine if
and where exogenous oxytocin delivery acts within an organism. Aim 4 is to generate useful and when needed
develop new mouse lines for cell-type specific dissection of oxytocinergic signaling, and to leverage
transcriptome data and other gene expression resources to facilitate studies on the roles of molecularly defined
Oxt+ and Oxtr+ populations in socio-spatial behavior.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10912599
- **Project number:** 5U19NS107616-07
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** MOSES VICTOR CHAO
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $583,871
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10912599

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10912599, Molecular Tools Core (5U19NS107616-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10912599. Licensed CC0.

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