Mammalian brain cells signal through a myriad of pathways. One key protein in brain signalling is the calmodulin-responsive kinase CaMKIIa, which is important in learning and memory. In fact it is the most abundant protein in synapses of the hippocampus. It is also a drug target in situations of brain injury like stroke and is found in rare events to be associated with pathogenic mutations in children. Finding the right balance of intervention with this protein is an exciting task. In my lab, we have found that a class of small-molecule compounds can bind to a central part of CaMKIIa (the hub domain) to stabilize the protein and protect against stroke. In this project, we will study the mechanisms behind CaMKIIa to understand its role in brain physiology, and as a potential drug target. The latter includes testing the potential of hub ligands to rescue biochemical disturbances in patients carrying CAMK2A mutations.