Endothelial Pannexin1 and Brain Inflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease
Official title: Endothelial Pannexin1-induced inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11374221 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a channel in brain blood vessel cells may drive inflammation and worsen Alzheimer’s disease in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $357,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG087474-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374221 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, or those at risk, who may contribute samples or participate in future related studies are potential candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific study.
What this research studies
Alzheimer’s disease involves too much inflammation in the brain, which is linked with problems in the brain’s blood vessels. The research focuses on Panx1 channels in cerebral endothelial cells and how they release ATP to trigger inflammatory signals that may worsen Alzheimer’s pathology. Using human cells and mouse models, the study investigates how TNF-alpha activates Panx1 and promotes leukocyte adhesion and barrier disruption, which could contribute to disease progression. If this mechanism is confirmed, it could point to new ways to protect brain blood vessels and reduce inflammation in patients with Alzheimer’s.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding this pathway could lead to new treatments that reduce brain inflammation and slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked endothelial Panx1 and inflammatory signaling to neuroinflammation, supporting the plausibility of these mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Good, Miranda E — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Good, Miranda E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
-
Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Sensory, Motor, and Cognitive Clues
Researchers are testing simple sensory and movement tasks to find early signs of Alzheimer’s disease so they can diagnose and treat people sooner.
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.