How brain cells protect against damage in polyglutamine disorders
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF NEUROPROTECTION IN POLYGLUTAMINE-DEPENDENT DEGENERATION
Researchers are comparing how proteins linked to Huntington's disease and related polyglutamine disorders are handled by cells to find ways to protect brain cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231276 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team is creating matched laboratory models for each polyglutamine protein and following how those proteins are made, modified, and broken down. They will use fruit flies, cultured mammalian cells, mass spectrometry, and biochemical experiments to track protein processing. By comparing many disease proteins side-by-side, they aim to map shared and distinct cellular paths that lead to toxicity or protection. The end goal is a practical blueprint showing how each polyQ protein is controlled in living systems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by Huntington's disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, Kennedy's disease, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, or their family members who want to follow research progress.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated neurological conditions or those seeking immediate changes in their clinical care are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal common targets to slow or prevent nerve cell damage across multiple polyglutamine diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies have found mechanisms in individual polyglutamine diseases, but this broad, comparative approach is novel and has not yet produced direct patient treatments.
Where this research is happening
Detroit, United States
- Wayne State University — Detroit, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Todi, Sokol — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Todi, Sokol
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.