How fats on cell membranes get damaged and lead to cell death in aging and Alzheimer’s
Membrane reconstitution approach for the investigation of lipid peroxidation mechanisms and its pathological effects
The team is creating a lab test that watches how fats in cell membranes become damaged and trigger a form of cell death linked to Alzheimer’s and other age-related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176814 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will build membrane-like systems in the lab and use surface-selective fluorescence microscopy to directly detect formation of lipid peroxides on membranes. They will measure the chemistry of peroxidation under controlled conditions to see whether enzymes or iron-driven free-radical reactions cause the damage. The project will link those chemical steps to ferroptosis, a programmed cell death process implicated in Alzheimer’s and aging. Findings aim to reveal specific molecular steps that could be targeted to protect cells from membrane damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, or other age-related neurodegenerative conditions are the most relevant populations who might benefit from downstream clinical work based on these findings.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or short-term symptom relief are unlikely to benefit directly because this is fundamental laboratory research rather than a clinical treatment trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify chemical targets to prevent membrane damage and ferroptosis, informing future therapies to slow or stop cell loss in Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab studies have characterized lipid oxidation and ferroptosis, but using a membrane-reconstitution assay combined with surface-selective fluorescence to pinpoint the exact chemical pathways is a relatively new and more direct approach.
Where this research is happening
Fort Collins, United States
- Colorado State University — Fort Collins, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Jean — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Chung, Jean
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.