How the brain receptor LRP1 helps tau spread in Alzheimer’s
Deciphering the Molecular Features Underlying LRP1-Mediated Tau Spread
This project looks at whether changes to the tau protein and its interaction with the brain receptor LRP1 change how tau spreads in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303369 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s, this work is trying to learn why tau protein moves from cell to cell in the brain. The team will map how tau physically binds to the receptor LRP1 using purified proteins and lab measurements, and then test how chemical changes to tau (like phosphorylation, acetylation, or ubiquitination) change that interaction. They will use human-derived neurons grown from stem cells and animal models to see how those changes affect tau spread and aggregation. The goal is to find specific molecular contacts that could be targeted to stop or slow tau propagation in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not currently enroll patients, but people with early Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment could be future candidates for therapies that come from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with non-tau dementias or those with very advanced Alzheimer’s are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused project in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to block tau spread and slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown LRP1 can influence tau spread in cells and mice, but detailed mapping of the molecular interface and the role of specific tau modifications is a novel extension.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rauch, Jennifer Nicole — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Rauch, Jennifer Nicole
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.