How cells keep calcium levels balanced
Official title: Deciphering Molecular Mechanisms of Calcium Homeostasis
Funded at Albany Medical College · NIH-11192831 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using a tiny worm model to learn how changes in cellular calcium tied to presenilin may lead to nerve cell damage in people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albany Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $407,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM145364-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192831 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Although the project uses lab models and does not enroll people, the findings would most directly interest people living with Alzheimer's disease or those with genetic risk for early-onset forms.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatments, those with unrelated medical conditions, or patients looking to join a clinical trial will not directly benefit from this lab-based work.
What this research studies
The team uses the microscopic worm C. elegans because it carries a version of the human presenilin protein to examine calcium movement between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. They modify the worm presenilin gene (SEL-12) and measure mitochondrial calcium, energy use, protein folding, and signs of neuron damage. The work combines genetic manipulations, biological assays, and behavioral tests in worms to identify processes that keep calcium in balance. Results are meant to point to molecular steps that could be targeted in future Alzheimer's therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets to prevent calcium-driven neuron damage and help guide development of new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab studies have linked presenilin and calcium dysregulation to neurodegeneration, but translating these basic findings into effective human therapies has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
-
Albany Medical College
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Norman, Kenneth R — Albany Medical College
- Study coordinator: Norman, Kenneth R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Endothelial inflammation memory after sepsis and pneumonia
A scientist is studying how blood vessel cells “remember” sepsis and why survivors get worse when they catch pneumonia, with the goal of finding better ways to reduce organ damage.
-
How common gut bacteria may stop C. difficile from making spores
This project looks at whether common gut bacteria called enterococci can stop C. difficile from making hardy spores that spread infection, which could help people prone to C. difficile infections.
-
Kiss1 neurons in brain regions and how they influence reproduction
A small NIH-funded project looks at how specific brain cells (Kiss1 neurons) affect reproductive hormones in adults.
-
Endothelial genes linked to Alzheimer's progression in male and female brains
Aims to find blood vessel gene targets that change as Alzheimer's progresses, in both men and women, using mouse models to mirror human disease.
-
How tumor stiffness and tissue environment affect HER2 antibody therapy
This project studies how the physical environment inside HER2-positive tumors affects how well HER2-targeting antibodies can reach and engage their target in patients.
-
KCTD11-related CMT neuropathy: uncovering how it damages nerves
We are studying a genetic form of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease to understand what goes wrong in nerves and support future treatments.
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.