How GBA and LRRK2 genes interact in Lewy body dementia
Intersection of GBA and LRRK2 in Lewy Body Dementia
This project looks at how changes in two genes, GBA and LRRK2, affect people with Lewy body dementia to find new clues about why the disease happens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319050 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will study how mutations in the GBA gene change cell biology linked to Lewy body dementia, focusing on Golgi, lysosome, and protein-processing pathways. They will use patient-derived cells, laboratory models, and analysis of brain tissue to see how GBA changes alter handling of alpha-synuclein and APP. The researchers will also examine how GBA interacts with LRRK2 and APOE-related pathways that contribute to the mixed Lewy body and Alzheimer-type pathology seen in patient brains. Laboratory molecular techniques and comparison to human samples will be used to connect these genetic changes to disease mechanisms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with Lewy body dementia or Parkinson disease with dementia, especially those who carry or are willing to be tested for GBA or LRRK2 variants and who can provide clinical data or biological samples.
Not a fit: People without Lewy body dementia or without suspected GBA/LRRK2 involvement may not see direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new molecular targets for treatments that slow or prevent Lewy body dementia, especially in people with GBA or LRRK2 changes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked GBA1 variants to higher risk of Lewy body dementia and shown that fixing GBA-related pathways can improve protein handling in lab models, but the specific interaction with LRRK2 remains less explored.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lavoie, Matthew J — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Lavoie, Matthew J
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.