How genes and aging help brain cells remove toxic protein clumps
Defining roles of genetic and age in extracellular elimination of neurotoxic aggregates
Researchers are looking at how genetic differences and aging change the way brain cells toss out harmful protein clumps linked to Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320830 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses tiny roundworms (C. elegans) so scientists can watch individual nerve cells and labeled protein clumps in real time. The team forces protein-folding stress by adding human Alzheimer's-related proteins and then alters genes or treats the worms to see how cells expel large packets called "exophers." By tracking which genes and age-related changes make expulsion more or less likely, they hope to learn how toxic aggregates are handled outside cells. Findings are meant to point toward ways we might boost removal of harmful proteins in human brains.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with late-onset Alzheimer's disease or other neurodegenerative conditions involving protein aggregates would be the most relevant patient group for results of this work.
Not a fit: People without neurodegenerative disease or with conditions unrelated to protein-aggregation biology are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new ways to help brain cells clear toxic protein aggregates and slow diseases like Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal-model work has shown that cells can dispose of aggregates and that changing protein-homeostasis genes affects toxicity, but translating those findings to human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Piscataway, United States
- Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. — Piscataway, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Driscoll, Monica a. — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Driscoll, Monica a.
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.