UCLA Health researchers have secured a $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to launch a new research center focused on interoceptive neuroscience. This initiative aims to enhance understanding of how the nervous system interprets and integrates internal body signals to maintain physical equilibrium.
Establishment of the Blueprint Coordination Center for Interoception Research
The funding will support the development of the Blueprint Coordination Center for Interoception Research (BPCCIR) over the next five years. UCLA Health will act as the primary coordinating hub, with Dr. Sahib Khalsa, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist, and Dr. Olujimi Ajijola, an expert in electrophysiology and cardiovascular diseases, serving as the center’s co-principal investigators.
Collaborators on this project include notable institutions such as UC San Francisco, represented by Dr. Xin Sun; Harvard University, with Dr. Mark Andermann; and the Allen Institute, led by Dr. Rui Costa.
Interoception refers to the brain’s ability to continuously receive and process information from internal organs, including the heart and lungs. This ongoing exchange is essential for maintaining homeostasis, emotional regulation, motivational behavior, and overall adaptability to physiological changes. Disruptions in interoceptive processing have been linked to various health issues, spanning neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular, and metabolic conditions.
The BPCCIR is set to combat the current fragmentation in interoceptive research, which varies in discipline, organ system focus, and methodology. By creating a collaborative scientific environment, the center aims to connect research findings across these diverse frameworks. Ajijola emphasized the center’s potential to foster significant clinical advancements for patients.
Key initiatives of the BPCCIR will include the establishment of resources for the interoception research community, such as an open-access network, annual conferences, workshops, standardized terminology, and comprehensive training programs for early-career researchers. The center will also produce consensus white papers to address major challenges in the field, aiming to unify research from molecular biology to clinical applications to provide a more cohesive understanding of how internal signals influence brain function and health.
Khalsa remarked on the interdisciplinary nature of interoceptive research, stating, “This Center creates an opportunity to bring together animal and human approaches within a common scientific framework.” This collaborative approach aims to lay the groundwork necessary for the future growth of interoceptive neuroscience.
Why It Matters
The establishment of the BPCCIR represents a significant advance in the interdisciplinary field of interoceptive neuroscience. By building a collaborative network, it has the potential to accelerate research that may lead to breakthroughs in understanding the connection between bodily signals and mental health, ultimately benefiting patients across a range of medical issues.
