Abnormal histone changes in Parkinson’s disease and related dementias
The Role of Aberrant Histone Acetylation in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease and Related Synucleinopathies.
This project looks at whether abnormal chemical tags on DNA-packaging proteins damage brain cells in people with Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139508 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers grow human stem-cell-derived neurons in the lab that mimic features of Parkinson’s and related disorders and use proteomics and genome-wide gene-editing screens to find proteins that change histone acetylation. They study how these histone changes relate to buildup of alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to neuron loss. Lab findings are compared with changes seen in postmortem brain tissue from people who had Parkinson’s to confirm real-world relevance. The goal is to find molecular switches that could be targeted to protect neurons.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, or multiple system atrophy, and individuals willing to provide biological samples or consider brain donation, would be the most relevant participants or donors.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson’s or related synucleinopathies and those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic-mechanism research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new molecular targets for therapies that slow or prevent neuron damage in Parkinson’s and related synucleinopathies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies link histone acetylation to brain aging and neurodegeneration, but combining human stem-cell models with proteomics and genome-wide CRISPR screening to pinpoint modifiers of alpha-synuclein pathology is a relatively new and exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Soldner, Frank — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Soldner, Frank
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.