ApoE4 Correctors to Help Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
Official title: Discovery and optimization of ApoE4 correctors for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11380651 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project is exploring small molecules that can change ApoE4 to behave more like ApoE3, with the goal of slowing or altering Alzheimer’s disease in people who carry the ApoE4 gene.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,676,401 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG086914-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380651 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals carrying the ApoE4 allele who are at risk for or living with Alzheimer’s disease could benefit from later-stage therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without ApoE4 or those not at risk for Alzheimer’s would be unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop and optimize small molecules that bind to ApoE4 and improve its function, which could reduce brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers will study how these compounds affect ApoE4 stability and activity using biochemical tests and brain-relevant models. The work is designed to move toward therapies that could benefit people at genetic risk for Alzheimer’s by addressing a key disease mechanism at the protein level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments that lessen brain changes and symptoms for people at risk due to ApoE4.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that correcting ApoE4 function is challenging but remains a promising avenue, with ongoing progress in understanding ApoE4 stability and activity.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jackson, Michael — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Jackson, Michael
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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.