How sugar tags on the tau protein affect Alzheimer's
Official title: Dissecting the role of tau glycosylation in Alzheimer's disease
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11457060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will learn whether sugar-like tags attached to the tau protein change how it clumps and damages brain cells in people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $681,159 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG079294-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457060 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease and caregivers who want research that targets tau biology are the most relevant audience for the findings, though the project itself uses lab models and stem-cell neurons rather than enrolling patients.
✕Less likely to help
Anyone seeking immediate treatment or access to a clinical trial that offers direct therapeutic benefit is unlikely to gain short-term benefit from this laboratory-focused project.
What this research studies
This research looks at tiny sugar molecules attached to the tau protein found in Alzheimer's brains and how they change tau's shape and behavior. Scientists will create tau proteins with different sugar patterns and measure their physical properties and tendency to clump. They will test how these modified tau proteins enter, survive, and harm human neurons grown from stem cells. The team will also examine how sugar tags interact with other chemical changes on tau to influence toxicity and stability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to detect or prevent harmful tau clumps and guide the development of therapies for Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has found sugar tags on tau in Alzheimer's and shown that changing tau chemistry can alter its behavior, but the specific effects of tau glycosylation remain largely novel and are not yet proven clinically.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walczak, Maciej — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Walczak, Maciej
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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.