How everyday cooking chemicals could affect dopamine nerve cells
Official title: Mechanisms of PhIP-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11566430 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies whether a common dietary chemical found in cooked foods can damage dopamine-producing brain cells linked to Parkinson’s disease, using laboratory models to understand the process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $597,756 |
| NIH project number | 4R01ES025750-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11566430 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Parkinson’s disease or individuals at risk could benefit from future translations of these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals with no risk factors may not directly benefit from this basic mechanistic research.
What this research studies
This project uses cells, worms, and animal models to explore how a specific dietary chemical damages dopamine neurons. It looks at the steps inside cells that lead to neuron injury, including oxidative stress, protein clumps, autophagy problems, and DNA adduct formation. The research aims to reveal why dopamine neurons are especially vulnerable and how neuromelanin might influence toxin buildup. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could guide future therapies or prevention strategies for Parkinson’s disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform strategies to prevent or mitigate dopamine neuron damage related to dietary exposures and PD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that similar dietary toxins can cause neuron damage in models, supporting the mechanistic approach of this study.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cannon, Jason R — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Cannon, Jason R
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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.