How cells' recycling centers and stress responses affect brain diseases
Regulation of lysosome positioning and function by the unfolded protein response
Researchers are looking at whether improving how cells' recycling centers (lysosomes) and stress responses clear toxic proteins could help people with Alzheimer's, Huntington's, or Parkinson's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173698 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses lab-grown cells and model systems to learn how cells remove harmful, clumpy proteins that damage brain cells. Scientists will focus on lysosomes (the cell's recycling centers) and the unfolded protein response (the cell's stress alarm) to see how their placement and function affect clearance of toxic proteins. They will study pathways like microautophagy and how endoplasmic reticulum stress changes organelle trafficking. All work is done in research labs at the University of Utah and does not currently involve patient treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The project does not enroll patients, but people living with Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, or Parkinson's disease are the populations who could benefit from eventual therapies arising from this work.
Not a fit: People without neurodegenerative disease or patients seeking immediate treatments are unlikely to see direct benefits from this lab-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to help brain cells clear toxic proteins and eventually slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies targeting lysosome and autophagy pathways have shown promise in cell and animal models, but translating those findings into effective human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hollien, Julie — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Hollien, Julie
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.