Circular RNAs and brain aging
Official title: Uncovering the functions of circRNAs in aging
Funded at Brandeis University · NIH-11234311 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how circular RNAs — loop-shaped RNA molecules — change with age and may affect brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brandeis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $662,618 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG091918-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11234311 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease, or older adults interested in future trials stemming from these findings, would be the likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or symptom relief should not expect direct benefit because this project is laboratory-focused basic research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study circular RNAs (circRNAs), a type of RNA that forms a loop, to see how they build up in the brain as we get older. Using new genetic and biochemical tools the team developed, they will lower or alter specific circRNAs in cells and laboratory models to measure effects on cell health and lifespan. They will identify which circRNAs control nearby genes (cis) or act at a distance (trans) and how those effects influence brain-related pathways. The goal is to connect these molecular changes to processes that contribute to Alzheimer's and age-related brain decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new biomarkers or molecular targets for treatments that slow brain aging or help prevent Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab studies have shown circRNAs accumulate with age and that altering certain circRNAs can change lifespan in model systems, but translating these results to human Alzheimer's remains uncertain.
Where this research is happening
-
Brandeis University
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kadener, Sebastian — Brandeis University
- Study coordinator: Kadener, Sebastian
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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.