How the prion-family gene Prnd in blood-vessel cells affects brain and retinal blood vessels
Analyzing the Endothelial Cell-Expressed Prion Gene Prnd in Vascular Development
This work looks at whether the gene Prnd in blood-vessel lining cells controls how blood vessels form and how leaky they are in the brain and retina, which could matter for people with developmental or age-related brain and eye blood-vessel problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238964 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team will study the Prnd gene in the cells that line blood vessels using lab-grown human endothelial cells and animal models, combining biochemical tests and high-resolution imaging to watch vessel growth and leakiness. They will change Prnd levels to compare normal versus altered function and measure effects on vessel formation and permeability in the brain and retina. The researchers will also map the signaling pathways Prnd uses, looking for molecular steps that could become future drug targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with brain or retinal vascular disorders or adults willing to donate blood or tissue samples for laboratory research would be the most relevant participants for related human-sample efforts.
Not a fit: People without brain or eye blood-vessel conditions or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct health benefits from this basic-laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to prevent or treat blood-vessel damage in the brain and retina, potentially reducing complications of developmental disorders and neurodegenerative eye and brain diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Some preclinical work links prion-family genes to vascular signaling, but applying Prnd specifically to brain and retinal blood-vessel disease is a relatively new direction with limited prior clinical success.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccarty, Joseph H — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Mccarty, Joseph H
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.