How the brain's cleanup cells handle prions
Role of microglial phagocytosis in prion diseases
This work looks at whether the brain's cleanup cells (microglia) help or harm people with prion and related brain diseases by removing infectious prion protein and sometimes healthy neurons.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295427 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers follow prion infection in lab models to see when brain immune cells take up infectious prion protein and when they begin engulfing living neurons. They will map the timing of prion uptake and neuronal engulfment, study the molecular signals that tag cells for removal, and test how microglial behavior changes as disease progresses. The experiments use infected animal models and tissue and molecular analyses to track microglial activity and identify the pathways involved. The aim is to reveal whether microglial phagocytosis shifts from protective early on to harmful later, which could point to new ways to protect neurons.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with prion disease or similar rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disorders would be the kinds of patients who might benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
Not a fit: People without neurodegenerative conditions or those seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work right now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to stop harmful microglial actions and help slow neuron loss in prion and related neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have produced mixed results about whether microglia are protective or harmful, so this project builds on preliminary findings to clarify those conflicts.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baskakov, Ilia V — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Baskakov, Ilia V
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.