How dying brain cells are spotted and cleared
How are necrotic neurons recognized by their phagocytes
['FUNDING_R01'] · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · NIH-11162366
This project looks at how dying brain cells show signals that let cleanup cells remove them, with the goal of helping people with Alzheimer's disease and brain injury.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11162366 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This lab work uses tiny roundworms (C. elegans) to learn how dead or injured neurons expose an "eat me" signal called phosphatidylserine and how other cells recognize and swallow those debris. Scientists create genetic changes that cause neuron necrosis in the worms and then track the steps that lead to signal exposure, engulfment, and breakdown of cell parts. Because many cell-cleaning mechanisms are shared across animals, what they learn may point to similar processes in human brain cells and microglia. This is basic laboratory research done at Baylor College of Medicine rather than a clinical treatment trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease or recent brain injury could eventually benefit from therapies based on this research or be candidates for follow-up clinical studies informed by it.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or those without neurodegenerative disease or brain injury are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic lab research right now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to protect neurons or control damaging inflammation in Alzheimer's disease and after brain injury.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies in cells and animal models have shown that phosphatidylserine can act as an "eat me" signal for phagocytes, but translating these findings into Alzheimer's therapies remains at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ZHOU, ZHENG — BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: ZHOU, ZHENG
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease