Fascin and mitochondria: a new link to Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: Regulation of mitochondrial DNA homeostasis and neuroinflammation by Fascin in Alzheimer’s Disease
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11369674 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease explores how a protein called Fascin may affect mitochondria and brain inflammation to influence the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $698,411 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077451-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369674 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease who might benefit from therapies targeting mitochondria or neuroinflammation.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer’s pathology or those not affected by neuroinflammation may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project looks at how Fascin, a protein that helps organize cell skeletons, might regulate mitochondrial DNA and energy production in brain cells of people with Alzheimer's. Researchers will study how changes in Fascin affect mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation, and how these changes could contribute to neurodegeneration. The work combines cellular models and analyses of human brain tissue to understand these processes better, with the aim of identifying potential therapeutic targets. The findings could illuminate new ways to slow or modify disease progression in patients who are aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new strategies to preserve brain health and slow Alzheimer’s progression in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation play roles in Alzheimer’s, and similar approaches have yielded insights into disease mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Yongchao Charles — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Ma, Yongchao Charles
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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.