How brain immune cells and the SYK protein affect Alzheimer's
Official title: Microglia dysregulation and SYK signaling in Alzheimer's disease
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11456933 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether changing a protein called SYK in brain immune cells (microglia) can slow or prevent Alzheimer's disease in people with or at risk for the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $537,718 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG078201-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11456933 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for related participation would be people with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment and those at high risk who can donate samples or take part in observational components.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer's or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this primarily lab- and sample-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how SYK controls different activation states of microglia across ages and stages of amyloid (Aβ) buildup. They will use human genetic and transcriptomic data, experiments on human-derived samples and cells, and mouse models where SYK activity is changed to see how microglia respond. The team will pay special attention to how SYK works with the receptor TREM2 and whether altering SYK affects amyloid clearance and neurodegeneration. Results will help decide if targeting SYK in microglia could be developed into future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that slow or prevent Alzheimer’s by shifting microglia toward protective behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Related lab and animal studies have suggested microglia and TREM2 pathways are promising targets, but human therapies targeting these pathways remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kitazawa, Masashi — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Kitazawa, Masashi
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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.