Identifying molecules that interact with alpha-synuclein in Alzheimer's disease–related dementias
Official title: Interrogating alpha-synuclein aggregate-associated proteomes to identify modifiers of Lewy body disease.
Funded at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville · NIH-11319079 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville will map which proteins interact with alpha-synuclein in brain tissue and human-derived cells to understand its role in dementia like Lewy body disease and Alzheimer’s-related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Jacksonville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jacksonville, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,878,189 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1NS147442-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319079 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for ADRD or Lewy body dementia whose brain tissue or patient-derived cells may be studied, as well as healthy controls for comparative analyses.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not directly benefit if their tissues or cells are used solely for research and no clinical intervention results.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced proteomics to identify proteins that come near alpha-synuclein as it forms harmful aggregates in neurons. Researchers will perform proximity labeling in live human neurons and mouse brain slices, then analyze the labeled proteins with mass spectrometry to build an interaction map. By comparing normal and disease-like conditions, the study aims to pinpoint cofactors that drive aggregation and neurodegeneration in ADRD. The work combines human-derived cells, animal tissue, and patient brain samples to reveal mechanisms that could guide future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal new molecular targets to slow or prevent progression of Lewy body dementia and other Alzheimer’s disease–related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Similar proteomics approaches have identified interaction partners for disease-related proteins, supporting the feasibility of mapping alpha-synuclein interactors in neurodegenerative diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Jacksonville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mclean, Pamela J — Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
- Study coordinator: Mclean, Pamela J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut-immune changes in Lewy Body Diseases and early signs
A study at Stanford will explore how the gut and its immune system may be linked to Lewy Body diseases like Parkinson’s and related conditions, with findings that could point to new ways to understand and someday treat these illnesses.
-
Gut-immune system links in Lewy Body Disease
Researchers are studying how the gut and immune system may influence Lewy body diseases like Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies, aiming to uncover new clues that could lead to better diagnosis and treatment in the future.
-
Amygdala’s role in Lewy body disease and Alzheimer’s disease
A clinician-science training grant to help Dr. D. Luke Fischer study how the amygdala may drive the spread of disease in people with Lewy body disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Gut immune changes in Lewy body disorders
This project looks at whether changes in gut immune signals and gut bacteria are linked to Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and people with early signs like REM sleep behavior disorder.
-
Automated Neurodegeneration Index for Lewy Body Disease in At-Risk Groups
A new machine‑learning tool analyzes routine brain scans to identify early neurodegeneration in people at risk for Parkinson’s disease or dementia with Lewy bodies.
-
Restoring the brain's cleanup cells to help in Lewy body disease
This project looks at whether removing and then regrowing the brain's immune cells can help clear harmful protein clumps that damage people with Lewy body disease.
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.