How Blood Vessel Changes in the Brain Affect Huntington's Disease
Official title: Understanding the Contribution of Altered Cerebrovascular Function to the Pathology and Clinical Symptoms of Huntington Disease
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10912523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how changes in brain blood vessels might contribute to the symptoms and progression of Huntington's disease in people living with the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $660,887 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS114562-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10912523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for related future studies would likely be individuals with Huntington's disease, particularly those with the gene expansion, who are willing to undergo brain imaging and clinical assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Huntington's disease or those not interested in participating in observational imaging studies may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We are looking into how problems with blood flow in the brain might lead to the brain changes and symptoms seen in Huntington's disease. Our team will use advanced brain imaging to see how blood vessels are working in different parts of the brain. We will also follow people with Huntington's disease over time to understand how these blood vessel changes develop and if they are linked to how quickly the disease progresses. This will help us understand if targeting these blood vessel issues could be a new way to help manage Huntington's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to understand and potentially treat Huntington's disease by focusing on brain blood vessel health.
How similar studies have gone: While the importance of neurovascular alterations in neurodegeneration is increasingly recognized, this specific focus on Huntington's disease and its progression is a novel and important area of exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosas, Herminia Diana — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rosas, Herminia Diana
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Harnessing neuron-derived vesicles to find Huntington’s disease biomarkers
A research project aims to identify brain-derived biomarkers in blood that reflect Huntington disease activity, using neuronal extracellular vesicles as the signal source.
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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.
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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.
-
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.
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.