Alpha5 integrin's role in ALS: how a cell switch worsens disease
Official title: Mechanism of alpha5 integrin contribution to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis pathology
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11540166 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how a specific protein called alpha5 integrin in immune cells affects ALS progression and whether blocking it can help extend life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $674,731 |
| NIH project number | 7R01NS146509-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11540166 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with ALS or at risk due to familial or sporadic forms could benefit from therapies targeting alpha5 integrin.
✕Less likely to help
If ALS is caused by pathways unrelated to alpha5 integrin, patients may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies ALS by looking at immune cells in the brain and body that influence nerve cell health. Researchers will use mouse models with targeted deletions of alpha5 integrin in microglia or peripheral macrophages to see how this protein drives disease. They will also study human cells created from patient-derived stem cells to observe alpha5 integrin’s effects on microglia and motor neurons in ALS contexts. The goal is to map how alpha5 integrin changes cell behavior and contributes to neuron loss, potentially pointing to new ways to slow ALS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new therapies that slow ALS progression by modulating immune cell function.
How similar studies have gone: Blocking alpha5 integrin has extended survival in ALS mouse models, supporting the approach's potential.
Where this research is happening
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ajami, Bahareh — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ajami, Bahareh
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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.