How a change to the brain protein α‑synuclein differs between healthy people and Lewy body dementia
Official title: Distinguishing α-Synuclein S129 Phosphorylation in Health and Lewy Body Dementia
Funded at University of South Florida · NIH-11507541 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are checking whether a specific chemical change (called S129 phosphorylation) on the brain protein α‑synuclein looks different in healthy brains compared with brains affected by Lewy body dementia and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $209,498 |
| NIH project number | 7R21AG085401-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11507541 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease with dementia, or other synuclein-related neurodegenerative conditions would be the most directly relevant group for this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without synuclein-related disorders or with dementias not involving Lewy bodies are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this specific project.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, this project looks at a chemical tag on α‑synuclein (pS129) that is common in Lewy bodies and asks whether the same tag also appears normally in healthy brain cells. The team will compare pS129 in healthy versus diseased brain tissue and in lab models to see if there are molecular or structural differences that mark pathology. They will study how normal brain activity produces pS129 and whether and how that normal form converts into the abnormal forms found in disease. The work combines molecular lab experiments, analysis of brain samples, and cellular models to try to tell apart the normal and disease-associated forms of this protein.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could make pS129 a more precise marker for Lewy body–related diseases and guide development of treatments that target the harmful form of α‑synuclein.
How similar studies have gone: Using pS129 as a disease marker is common, but distinguishing normal, activity-linked pS129 from the pathological form is a relatively new and unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Florida
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramalingam, Nagendran — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Ramalingam, Nagendran
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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.