Harmful tau protein changes after brain injury and vascular dementia
Cis proline directed proteotoxicity in the early development and therapy of traumatic brain injury and vascular dementia
This project will try blocking a harmful form of tau protein and boosting a protective neuron response to help people with traumatic brain injury or vascular-related dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173784 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are focusing on an early toxic form of the tau protein called cis P-tau that appears after traumatic brain injury or reduced blood flow to the brain. They will study how the enzyme JNK3 makes cis P-tau and how a neuron-protective response driven by REST might oppose this damage. Work will use cell experiments, mouse models of TBI and vascular dementia, and samples or data from patients across mentored (K99) and independent (R00) phases. Later work will test whether blocking JNK3 activity or restoring REST can reduce tau damage and protect brain cells in chronic stages.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had a recent traumatic brain injury or who have vascular-related cognitive impairment or dementia and who are willing to provide clinical data or samples would be the best candidates to participate or contribute.
Not a fit: Patients whose cognitive decline is driven by unrelated mechanisms or who cannot or will not participate in research may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to treatments that reduce early tau-related damage and slow or prevent cognitive decline after brain injury or vascular dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has identified cis P-tau as an early toxic tau form in TBI and Alzheimer’s, but targeting JNK3 and boosting REST is a newer therapeutic approach still mainly tested in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qiu, Chenxi — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Qiu, Chenxi
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.