Astrocyte glutamate transporter (EAAT2/GLT1) failure in Alzheimer's
Official title: Role of Astrocyte EAAT2/GLT1 Failure in Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11403594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers want to learn whether problems with a brain support protein that clears glutamate contribute to memory loss in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $833,758 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG075338-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment and those who can provide brain tissue or participate in related clinic visits would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People with non‑Alzheimer's forms of dementia or those with very advanced disease stages may not directly benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has Alzheimer's, this research looks at whether astrocytes (brain support cells) lose their ability to clear glutamate because the EAAT2/GLT1 protein is damaged, and whether that makes amyloid and tau-related damage worse. The team uses mouse models that carry Alzheimer-related proteins, experiments on brain tissue and slices to measure glutamate uptake and signaling, and comparisons to human Alzheimer's brain data. They will examine gene activity and behavior in animals and relate those findings to human samples to see if the same problems appear in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to therapies that protect nerve connections by restoring glutamate clearance and slow memory decline in Alzheimer's patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory and animal studies have linked EAAT2/GLT1 dysfunction to Alzheimer's-like problems and show that boosting EAAT2 can help in models, so this builds on promising preclinical evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scimemi, Annalisa — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Scimemi, Annalisa
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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.