Improving brain cell health to protect against Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Enhancing Synaptic Autophagy for Neuroprotection in Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11039133 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a process that helps clean up damaged proteins in brain cells is affected by Alzheimer's disease, and it hopes to find ways to boost this cleanup process to protect brain cells in mice with Alzheimer's, which could lead to new treatments for the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $314,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG091250-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11039133 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk for or diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of dementia or neurological disorders unrelated to Alzheimer's may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of autophagy, a process that helps clear damaged proteins in brain cells, in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It aims to understand how Alzheimer's disrupts this process and whether enhancing autophagy can protect brain cells in a mouse model of AD. The study will use various scientific techniques, including genetic manipulation and behavioral assessments, to explore these questions. By focusing on specific proteins involved in autophagy, the research seeks to identify potential therapeutic strategies for AD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that help preserve cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in enhancing autophagy as a therapeutic strategy in neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grosso Jasutkar, Hilary — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Grosso Jasutkar, Hilary
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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.