How early amyloid-beta clumps damage brain cell membranes
Official title: Molecular Structural Basis of Non-specific Neuronal Membrane Disruption Induced by Early-Stage Beta-Amyloid Peptide Aggregation
Funded at State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11173742 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using high-resolution lab methods to learn how early amyloid-beta clumps poke holes and break apart brain cell membranes, which may help people living with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Binghamton, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $318,676 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM125853-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173742 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease or those willing to donate brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, or blood for research would be most relevant for contributing to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate symptom relief or enrollment in a therapeutic clinical trial should not expect direct benefit from this laboratory-focused project.
What this research studies
The researchers use solid-state NMR and model membranes to watch how tiny amyloid-beta aggregates interact with nerve-cell membranes. They focus on rare early intermediate forms by studying liposome models and neuronal cells that mimic the brain environment. The team previously identified two damaging processes—small membrane leaks during fibril formation and larger fragmentation from off-pathway oligomers—and now aims to capture the specific structures that cause each effect. For patients, this work targets the basic molecular steps that may lead to neuron damage in Alzheimer's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal molecular targets to prevent membrane damage and guide new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior lab studies, including this group's earlier work, have shown that amyloid-beta can disrupt membranes and identified two damaging pathways, but high-resolution structural details remain novel.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of Ny,binghamton
Binghamton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qiang, Wei — State University of Ny,binghamton
- Study coordinator: Qiang, Wei
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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.