The Center for Neural Circuit Mapping (CNCM) is currently administered by the UCI School of Medicine (SOM) Office of Research. Leveraging their multiple NIH BRAIN Initiative Awards, other NIH grants and collaborations, SOM faculty Xiangmin Xu, Rozanne Sandri-Goldin, Todd Holmes and Bert Semler developed the Center plan which was recommended by the Dean’s Research Council and approved by the Dean on January 27, 2020.
This Center focuses on neural circuit studies and new viral-genetic technology development. The main aim of the Center is to advance the study of neural circuits to define mechanisms and pathways that underlie neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding the brain’s neural circuitry is critical for successful translational progress in better treating these diseases. Given the increasingly inter-disciplinary nature of neural circuit analysis, this Center will emphasize collaborative inclusion of Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Computer Science faculty on Campus.
One critical component of the Center is the creation of a viral production facility to disseminate to the worldwide neuroscience community new molecular tools developed by the Center investigators funded by BRAIN Initiative awards. This Center facility will also support UCI basic and clinical investigators using viral genetic tools, and locally serve the UCI research community by custom-making genetically modified AAV, lentivirus, rabies and herpes viruses, etc. on a recharge basis.
The CNCM membership is potentially available to all UCI faculty and faculty at partner institutions. There are more than 100 faculty members who have joined in the Center, including faculty members from UCI, US national, and international institutions. We expect that the establishment of this Center improves our research and competitive edge for large scale funding, and will raise our institutional profile and success of our neuroscience faculty.
News
- UCI researchers identified Alzheimer’s disease brain neural circuit alterationsA new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience by UCI School of Medicine researchers explores how AD affects the brain’s wiring, concentrating on a specific…Continue Reading UCI researchers identified Alzheimer’s disease brain neural circuit alterations
- Study reveals new brain ‘corner’ cells that encode environmental geometryA research team co-led by the University of California, Irvine, Stanford University and the University of California, San Diego has discovered that there are special neurons…Continue Reading Study reveals new brain ‘corner’ cells that encode environmental geometry
- UC Irvine-led research team creates novel rabies viral vectors for neural circuit mapping“A research team led by the University of California, Irvine has created 20 new recombinant rabies viral vectors for neural circuit mapping that offer a range…Continue Reading UC Irvine-led research team creates novel rabies viral vectors for neural circuit mapping
- CNCM Annual Newsletter #1CNCM has released it’s first annual newsletter! This newsletter covers what we did last year as a center and showcases what there is to look forward…Continue Reading CNCM Annual Newsletter #1
- CNCM has been awarded space in the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building opening in 2025!As announced by Vice Chancellor, Steve Goldstein, MD, PhD, FAAP on January 18, 2024, the Center for Neural Circuit Mapping Translational Neuroscience Program has been named…Continue Reading CNCM has been awarded space in the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building opening in 2025!
- A study led by the CNCM team is first to find brain hemorrhage cause other than injured blood vessels.“A first-of-its-kind study led by the University of California, Irvine has revealed a new culprit in the formation of brain hemorrhages that does not involve injury…Continue Reading A study led by the CNCM team is first to find brain hemorrhage cause other than injured blood vessels.