# Regional and Genetic Diversity of Cortical Interneurons

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2020 · $785,158

## Abstract

Project Summary
Neuronal identity is established during development through a complex set of
events that combine both genetic and activity dependent mechanisms.
Interneurons within the forebrain provide a particularly attractive context to explore
the process by which cell identity is achieved, as populations derived from focal
sources disperse across a variety of pallial and subpallial circuits. In this proposal,
we develop and combine multi-disciplinary methods that allow a precise
assignment of lineage boundaries within groups of interneurons to determine the
significance of clonality for cell migration and the integration of sibling cells into a
wide swath of diverse circuits. Moreover, by combining a fine grain lineal analysis
with RNA-Seq methodologies, coupled with physiological measures, this proposal
will provide unprecedented insight into how developmental events and changes in
gene expression manifest the establishment of both complex and diversity
excitatory (Cortical, Hippocampal and lateral Amygdala) and inhibitory (Striatal
and medial Amydala) circuits. This will be achieved through the execution of three
independent but interrelated aims. Aim 1 will provide a comprehensive
determination of interneuronal lineage and subtypes. Aim2 will complement this
by providing a “ground truth” understanding of how gene
expression evolves in sister interneurons derived from a common clone.
Finally aim 3 will provide insight as to how activity regulates gene expression in
establishing the connectivity and intrinsic physiology of different interneuron
subtypes. The successful execution of these aims will fundamentally allow use to
understand the interplay between pre-existing intrinsic programs against extrinsic
signals in the development of forebrain interneuron diversity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9932491
- **Project number:** 5R01MH071679-16
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** GORDON J FISHELL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $785,158
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9932491

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9932491, Regional and Genetic Diversity of Cortical Interneurons (5R01MH071679-16). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9932491. Licensed CC0.

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