Investigating a new pathway in Huntington's disease
Official title: Nuclear sphingosine kinase 2 in Huntington disease
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-10851725 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a specific pathway in the brain might affect nerve cell health in people with Huntington's disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help improve their condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $370,899 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS115886-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10851725 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Huntington's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other neurodegenerative disorders not related to Huntington's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by genetic mutations. It explores the role of a specific pathway involving sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2) and its interaction with a protein called ZHX2, which may contribute to neuron toxicity. By studying how these proteins affect neuron survival, the research aims to identify potential therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for patients with Huntington's disease. The approach includes characterizing the SK2/ZHX2 pathway in neurons and assessing its role in the disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that promote neuron survival in patients with Huntington's disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific SK2/ZHX2 pathway is novel, similar approaches targeting transcriptional regulation in neurodegenerative diseases have shown promise in other studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tsvetkov, Andrey — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Tsvetkov, Andrey
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Harnessing neuron-derived vesicles to find Huntington’s disease biomarkers
A research project aims to identify brain-derived biomarkers in blood that reflect Huntington disease activity, using neuronal extracellular vesicles as the signal source.
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Understanding how blood flow problems in the brain affect Huntington’s disease
A study at a major hospital is looking at how blood vessels in the brain may contribute to symptoms and brain changes in Huntington’s disease.
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Rhes‑SUMO pathway's role in Huntington's disease
This work looks at whether the Rhes‑SUMO protein system increases toxic huntingtin and helps it spread in the brain, which may explain early striatal damage in people with Huntington's disease.
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Understanding how ribosome stalling affects Huntington disease
This study is looking at how a problem with protein production in the brain might contribute to Huntington disease, which could help us find new ways to treat the condition.
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Rhes-SUMO Pathway and Huntington Disease in Mice
A study in mouse models explores how the Rhes-SUMO pathway may drive brain and nerve cell vulnerability in Huntington disease.
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Investigating the role of the Rhes-SUMO pathway in Huntington's disease
This study is looking at how a specific pathway in the brain might affect the worsening of Huntington's disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help manage the symptoms and slow down the disease for those living with it.
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.