How cells manage misfolded proteins in Alzheimer’s and related diseases
Official title: Mechanisms of misfolded protein sequestration and degradation
Funded at Marquette University · NIH-11292301 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how cells trap misfolded proteins to keep them from harming brain cells, with the goal of new ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marquette University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | May 22, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $569,258 |
| NIH project number | 1R15GM163286-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11292301 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias could benefit from future therapies informed by these mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage or non-proteinopathy conditions may not benefit directly from this basic mechanistic research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how cells sort and sequester damaged proteins into specific compartments to keep them from triggering cell death. They aim to understand how these protective systems degrade or refold misfolded proteins and why these quality-control mechanisms fail as diseases progress. The work will explore the formation and function of membrane-less compartments where misfolded proteins gather, and identify new targets to promote their clearance. Findings could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for proteinopathies like Alzheimer’s disease by reducing toxic protein buildup.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets to enhance clearance of toxic protein aggregates in Alzheimer’s and related diseases, potentially slowing disease progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows misfolded proteins can be sequestered in cellular compartments, but exact mechanisms are still being clarified and offer promising therapeutic angles.
Where this research is happening
-
Marquette University
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sontag, Emily Mitchell — Marquette University
- Study coordinator: Sontag, Emily Mitchell
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.