How chemical changes on normal tau affect the spread of disease-related tau
Regulation of Pathological Tau Transmission by Soluble Tau Post-Translational Modifications
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11325083
This work looks at whether small chemical tags on normal tau proteins change how harmful tau spreads in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11325083 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient’s perspective, scientists will examine how chemical modifications (called post-translational modifications or PTMs) on soluble tau influence the amplification and spread of pathological tau linked to Alzheimer’s. They will use tau extracted from Alzheimer’s brains alongside lab models to compare how different PTMs change seeding and propagation. The team will also compare tau from different tau-related diseases to see if the effects depend on the disease-specific shape of pathological tau. Results will guide ideas for drugs or antibodies that could block tau spread.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease, family members willing to donate brain tissue or other biospecimens, and those interested in future tau-targeting trials would be most relevant to this project.
Not a fit: People whose neurological problems are caused by non-tau conditions or who cannot provide samples are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to slow or stop the spread of tau in Alzheimer’s, which might slow cognitive decline.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory studies, including preliminary data on related proteins and initial tau acetylation results, suggest protein modifications can change pathological spread, but applying this to tau is a relatively new and exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PENG, CHAO — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: PENG, CHAO
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.