How the protein Sox18 affects brain blood vessels in Alzheimer's

Role of Sox18 in neurovascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · NIH-11248354

Looking at whether changes in the protein Sox18 in brain blood vessels lead to blood flow and blood–brain barrier problems in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO (nih funded)
Locations1 site (LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11248354 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This work looks at blood vessels taken from people with and without Alzheimer's to measure levels of Sox18 and other vessel proteins. Researchers will use mouse Alzheimer's models and human blood-vessel cells in the lab to change Sox18 levels and watch how that affects blood flow, barrier leaks, and inflammation. They will also examine whether these vascular changes influence amyloid buildup and nerve-cell injury over time. The overall aim is to see if fixing Sox18-related problems could help protect the brain's blood supply in Alzheimer's.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with Alzheimer's who can provide or authorize donation of brain or blood-vessel tissue, or who can provide blood samples for related studies, would be the most relevant participants.

Not a fit: People who cannot or do not provide tissue or blood samples, or those seeking immediate treatment changes, are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to a new way to protect brain blood vessels and slow Alzheimer’s-related damage.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked vascular dysfunction to Alzheimer's and identified vascular pathways as important, but targeting Sox18 in this context is a newer and less-tested approach.

Where this research is happening

LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.