How the CHCHD2 gene affects Parkinson’s and other Lewy body diseases
Official title: Pathological signatures and pathways of CHCHD2 dysfunction in Lewy body diseases
Funded at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center · NIH-11206945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring whether restoring a mitochondrial gene called CHCHD2 can reduce harmful protein clumps and cell damage in people with Parkinson’s disease and related Lewy body conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006539-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11206945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Parkinson’s disease or other Lewy body disorders, especially those willing to participate in related clinical studies or donate brain tissue for research, would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
People without Parkinson’s or Lewy body diseases, or whose condition is caused by unrelated mechanisms, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Scientists will use mice engineered to carry either the normal or a Parkinson’s-linked version of CHCHD2 to watch how the gene change alters brain cells, mitochondria, and protein clearance. They will compare those findings with human brain tissue from people with Lewy body diseases to see whether the same patterns appear. The team will test whether bringing back normal CHCHD2 reduces misfolded alpha‑synuclein and improves cellular cleanup systems. Findings will help reveal whether CHCHD2 loss or mutation drives disease and whether restoring it might protect brain cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to protect brain cells and reduce the protein clumps that harm people with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory and mouse model studies have linked CHCHD2 to Parkinson’s-like changes, but attempts to restore CHCHD2 as a treatment are still at an early, mainly preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
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Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kang, David E — Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kang, David E
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.