How S‑nitrosylation helps harmful brain proteins spread in frontotemporal and Lewy body dementia
S-Nitrosylation-Dependent Pathological Spread of Abnormal Proteins in Frontotemporal Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia
This project looks at whether a chemical change called S‑nitrosylation helps harmful proteins spread in people with frontotemporal dementia or Lewy body dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167679 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers are studying how a chemical change called S‑nitrosylation helps harmful proteins (TDP‑43, p62, α‑synuclein, and tau) move between brain cells by examining patient brain tissue, human stem‑cell models, and mouse models. They measure S‑nitrosylation and track protein spread using molecular, cellular, and imaging techniques and test whether blocking S‑nitrosylation can stop transmission. The team uses human induced pluripotent stem cells, archived human brain samples, and animal experiments to connect findings across systems and identify points where new treatments might intervene.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia or Lewy body dementia who are willing to donate samples or participate in related observational studies.
Not a fit: People without these forms of dementia or those unable or unwilling to provide samples or travel to the research site are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to block pathological protein spread and slow progression of dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab and animal work, including by this team, has shown S‑nitrosylation can cause synaptic damage and may promote protein spread, but translating these findings into human treatments is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Scripps Research Institute, the — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nakamura, Tomohiro — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Nakamura, Tomohiro
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.