Advanced NMR to see Alzheimer's protein clumps in their natural environment
High sensitivity NMR for structure determination of neurodegenerative disease associated protein aggregates in native contexts
This project uses new high-sensitivity NMR methods to map the shapes of Alzheimer-related protein clumps to help people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231285 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone concerned about Alzheimer's, this project uses cutting-edge nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques made much more sensitive by dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) to look at protein clumps where they form, not just after they are purified. The team will read atomic-level details about different shapes of amyloid and other disease-linked aggregates inside cells or tissue, which can be missed by lab-only studies. Because NMR can work on complex or unpurified samples, researchers plan to compare aggregates in native biological environments versus test-tube preparations. Understanding these structural differences may explain why some protein assemblies become harmful in Alzheimer’s.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would include people with Alzheimer’s disease or their families who can consent to donate brain tissue or other relevant biospecimens (including postmortem donations) for structural analysis.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment should not expect direct benefit, since this is basic structural research rather than a therapeutic trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal the exact structures of Alzheimer-linked protein aggregates in real tissue, guiding better diagnostics and targeted treatments over time.
How similar studies have performed: Recent advances in DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR have produced faster, higher-resolution data on protein aggregates, but applying these methods directly in native tissues is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frederick, Kendra King — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Frederick, Kendra King
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.