How nerve cells move mitochondria and other parts along long axons
Molecular Mechanisms of Axonal Transport and Organelle Dynamics
This project looks at how nerve cells carry mitochondria and other internal parts along long nerve fibers, work that could help people with ALS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321162 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work watches how nerve cells move mitochondria, autophagosomes, and synaptic components along long axons using live-cell imaging and detailed lab reconstitution approaches. The team studies how the cell's internal skeleton controls where cargo starts and stops and how molecular motors shape and split organelles. Experiments use cultured neurons, biochemical assays, and single-molecule methods to see transport in action. The goal is to explain transport problems seen in ALS and point to targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with ALS or other motor neuron disorders would be most directly relevant to this research and to related future studies.
Not a fit: Patients without nervous system disorders or whose symptoms are driven by causes unrelated to axonal transport are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal targets to protect or restore nerve-cell transport and potentially slow progression of ALS.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have linked axonal transport defects to ALS and similar imaging and biochemistry approaches have produced mechanistic insights, though translating those findings into therapies remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holzbaur, Erika L — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Holzbaur, Erika L
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.