Creating a new model to study tau protein toxicity using yeast
Official title: Developing and Validating a Novel Tau Toxicity Model in the Budding Yeast
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10745344 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain proteins related to dementia can become harmful in cells, using a type of yeast to see how these proteins behave and what genes might affect their toxicity, which could help us find new ways to treat these brain diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $160,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AG080423-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10745344 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals affected by tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tauopathies who are not interested in research participation or those with other unrelated neurodegenerative conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how tau proteins, which are linked to various forms of dementia, become toxic in cells. By using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, researchers will overexpress human tau proteins to observe their effects and identify genetic factors that may influence tau toxicity. This approach allows for powerful genetic screening to uncover the molecular pathways involved in tau-related neurodegenerative diseases. The findings could lead to a better understanding of tauopathies and potential therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases associated with tau protein toxicity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using yeast models has successfully identified genetic modifiers of other neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dang, Weiwei — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Dang, Weiwei
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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.