How different shapes of amyloid beta enter brain cells and cause harm
Official title: Using Chirality to Understand and Control Amyloid Beta Neuronal Uptake and Toxicity
Funded at University of California Santa Cruz · NIH-11317213 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether different structural forms of amyloid beta enter nerve cells and cause damage in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $372,884 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG074954-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11317213 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment who are interested in donating samples or being considered for related future clinical research may be relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose dementia is caused by non-amyloid conditions, or those seeking immediate treatment benefits, are unlikely to directly gain from this laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers will make stabilized versions of amyloid beta using chirality-based chemistry so the different aggregate shapes stay intact. They will solve the 3D structures of these forms using solid-state NMR and work with neurobiology labs to expose neurons to each form and measure uptake and toxicity. The team combines chemistry, structural biology, and cell experiments to link specific Aβ shapes with how much they enter neurons and how harmful they are. The goal is to find which Aβ species are most responsible for neuronal damage so future therapies can target them.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to which forms of amyloid beta should be blocked or removed to protect neurons in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked certain Aβ aggregates to neuronal toxicity, but applying chirality-stabilized Aβ forms together with detailed structural NMR analysis is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
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University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raskatov, Jevgenij — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Raskatov, Jevgenij
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.