Harnessing neuron-derived vesicles to find Huntington’s disease biomarkers
Official title: Harnessing neuronal extracellular vesicles for Huntington disease biomarkers
Funded at University of Central Florida · NIH-11448886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to identify brain-derived biomarkers in blood that reflect Huntington disease activity, using neuronal extracellular vesicles as the signal source.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Central Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orlando, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $545,462 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS144755-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Huntington disease or at-risk family members who may participate in biomarker validation studies or future trials.
✕Less likely to help
There may be no direct benefit for participants if the biomarkers do not correlate with disease activity or if tests are not adopted clinically.
What this research studies
This project looks for brain-specific markers in blood by studying extracellular vesicles that come from neurons. It focuses on Huntington disease and how mutant HTT signals might be measured in a less invasive way than current spinal fluid tests. The team will analyze how well these vesicles carry HTT-related information and how stable and detectable these signals are in people or model systems. Findings could help track disease progression or response to therapies that lower HTT or reduce somatic HTT expansion. The work is conducted at the University of Central Florida and led by Amber L. Southwell.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from a simpler, less invasive way to monitor disease progression and treatment effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that brain-derived extracellular vesicles can carry disease-relevant signals, supporting this approach as promising but still needing validation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Central Florida
Orlando, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Southwell, Amber L — University of Central Florida
- Study coordinator: Southwell, Amber L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how blood flow problems in the brain affect Huntington’s disease
A study at a major hospital is looking at how blood vessels in the brain may contribute to symptoms and brain changes in Huntington’s disease.
-
Rhes‑SUMO pathway's role in Huntington's disease
This work looks at whether the Rhes‑SUMO protein system increases toxic huntingtin and helps it spread in the brain, which may explain early striatal damage in people with Huntington's disease.
-
Understanding how ribosome stalling affects Huntington disease
This study is looking at how a problem with protein production in the brain might contribute to Huntington disease, which could help us find new ways to treat the condition.
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Rhes-SUMO Pathway and Huntington Disease in Mice
A study in mouse models explores how the Rhes-SUMO pathway may drive brain and nerve cell vulnerability in Huntington disease.
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Investigating the role of the Rhes-SUMO pathway in Huntington's disease
This study is looking at how a specific pathway in the brain might affect the worsening of Huntington's disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help manage the symptoms and slow down the disease for those living with it.
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Understanding how Huntington disease disrupts protein production in brain cells
Researchers are studying Huntington disease to learn how a faulty protein blocks ribosomes and slows protein-making in brain cells, which may contribute to movement and thinking problems.
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.