Creating therapeutic bile acids to help treat Alzheimer's disease
Microbial Synthesis of Therapeutic Bile Acids for Alzheimer's Disease
This study is exploring a new way to produce a bile acid called UDCA, which might help people with Alzheimer's disease, by using specially engineered microbes to make it in larger amounts for testing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Metselex, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (apple valley, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-10893950 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on engineering a microbial host to produce a specific bile acid called UDCA, which is being tested for its potential benefits in Alzheimer's disease. The team will develop a synthetic metabolic pathway to scale up the production of UDCA and its derivatives, which will then be evaluated in cell and animal models of Alzheimer's. By overcoming technical challenges in enzyme activity and gene expression, the researchers aim to create a reliable source of these compounds for further testing. Patients may benefit from new therapeutic options derived from this innovative approach.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or those at risk of developing it.
Not a fit: Patients with other forms of dementia unrelated to Alzheimer's may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that improve outcomes for patients with Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: While the approach of engineering microbial pathways is innovative, similar strategies have shown promise in other therapeutic areas, suggesting potential for success in this context.
Where this research is happening
apple valley, UNITED STATES
- Metselex, INC. — apple valley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smanski, Michael J — Metselex, INC.
- Study coordinator: Smanski, Michael J
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 below.