Biomarkers in blood for detecting and tracking ataxia progression
Official title: Evaluation and discovery of blood-based biomarkers for ataxia
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11371286 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, patient-friendly study from UCLA will look for blood signals that reflect ataxia progression to help test new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $196,875 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS144989-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371286 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with dominant or recessive genetic ataxias who are likely to participate in biomarker studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without ataxia or without available blood biomarkers may not benefit.
What this research studies
People with genetic ataxias may have faster, clearer ways to measure disease progress using blood biomarkers rather than long clinical scales. This project will use advanced blood tests to find proteins and RNA signals associated with how people with ataxia decline, including in extracellular vesicles from plasma. The team will test several promising biomarkers in blood samples from patients with common ataxia types, using cutting-edge techniques to detect subtle changes over time. The goal is to enable smaller, faster trials that can show whether a therapy helps, with less burden on patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to quicker, more reliable ways to measure treatment effects in ataxia clinical trials.
How similar studies have gone: Previous biomarker studies in ataxia have shown promise, but robust, CNS-relevant markers are still needed; this work builds on early findings with advanced technologies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bitan, Gal — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Bitan, Gal
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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.