How brain cells control protein-making in memory and dementia
Translational Control in Memory and Brain Disorders
This work looks at how neurons control making proteins in the brain to better understand memory problems in Alzheimer’s and related disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11327225 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use animal models to find which cell types in the hippocampus and amygdala need specific protein-making machinery to form, update, and erase memories. They focus on two key translation regulators (called eIF4E and eIF2α) and manipulate them in targeted cells while testing memory tasks like fear conditioning, extinction, and discrimination. The team also compares normal animals to models of Alzheimer’s, fragile X, and autism to see how disrupted protein synthesis harms synapses and behavior. The goal is to pinpoint molecular steps that could become targets for future therapies for memory loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: While this is preclinical work, future trials based on these findings would likely enroll people with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorders who have measurable memory impairment and are eligible for experimental therapy trials.
Not a fit: People without memory problems or whose condition is unrelated to protein-synthesis pathways are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific line of research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal molecular targets that lead to new treatments to preserve or restore memory in Alzheimer’s and related brain disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have repeatedly linked translation-control pathways to memory and disease in animals, but translating those findings into effective human treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klann, Eric — New York University
- Study coordinator: Klann, Eric
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.