Creating new biosensors and treatments for Huntington’s Disease
Official title: Developing novel nanobody-based biosensors and therapeutics for Huntington’s Disease
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11070387 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a protein linked to Huntington’s Disease to see how it changes shape and causes brain cell damage, and it aims to create special tools that can spot these harmful changes in real-time, which could help develop better ways to diagnose and treat the disease for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $207,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS137242-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070387 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease or those at risk of developing it.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other neurodegenerative disorders unrelated to Huntington’s Disease may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how a specific protein related to Huntington’s Disease misfolds and causes neurodegeneration. By developing nanobody-based biosensors, the researchers aim to identify the harmful forms of this protein in live neurons. The project combines expertise in protein assembly and nanobody technology to create tools that can detect and study these protein conformers, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies. Patients may benefit from improved diagnostics and targeted treatments as a result of this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools and targeted therapies for Huntington’s Disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using nanobody technology for similar applications, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khoshnan, Ali — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Khoshnan, Ali
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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.