Discovering new compounds to target a protein involved in Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase ligand discovery for Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11168156 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new imaging tool to help see a protein called PARP1 in the brain, which is important for understanding Alzheimer's disease, and it could lead to better treatments for people with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $782,495 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG094161-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168156 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of neurodegenerative diseases that do not involve PARP1 dysregulation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new imaging tool that targets poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1), a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. By creating a specific ligand that can bind to PARP1, researchers aim to use positron emission tomography (PET) to visualize and quantify the activity of this protein in the living brain. This approach will help improve our understanding of how PARP1 contributes to neurodegeneration and could lead to better therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to fill a significant gap in current imaging capabilities for studying PARP1 in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic tools and treatments for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on PARP1 in oncology, this approach for imaging PARP1 in the context of Alzheimer's disease is novel and has not been previously demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liang, Steven H — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Liang, Steven H
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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.