Investigating how nanoscale oligomers affect cell membranes in Huntington's disease
Official title: Nanoscopic Membrane Modulations Induced by Nanoscale Oligomers
Funded at University of South Florida · NIH-10790511 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny clumps of a faulty protein related to Huntington's disease affect brain cells, with the hope of finding ways to protect those cells and improve treatment options for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $141,650 |
| NIH project number | 1R03NS135210-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10790511 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Huntington's disease, particularly those experiencing early to moderate symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced Huntington's disease or those without a confirmed diagnosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of nanoscale oligomers of the mutant huntingtin protein in Huntington's disease, a severe neurodegenerative disorder. The study aims to explore how these oligomers interact with cell membranes, potentially leading to cellular dysfunction and neuronal death. By examining the lipid specificity of these interactions, the research seeks to uncover why certain cells are more vulnerable to amyloid toxicity than others. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to targeted therapies aimed at protecting neurons from damage caused by these oligomers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that protect neurons in Huntington's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding amyloid interactions with cell membranes, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Florida
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pan, Jianjun — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Pan, Jianjun
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how cell signals control heart development in Down syndrome
Scientists are studying why many babies with Down syndrome have heart defects and how interrupting specific signals in heart cells might prevent or lessen these problems.
-
Multi-agent AI to annotate enzymes in the human gut microbiome
A team at a major university will build an AI system that automatically curates and labels the functions of enzymes in the human gut microbiome to speed up understanding their health effects.
-
P7C3-based small molecule to help the heart restore NAD+ and function
A promising new approach aims to use P7C3-like small molecules to boost NAD+ in heart cells so people with heart failure could experience improved heart energy and function.
-
Self-supervised deep learning for biological sequences
A deep learning project uses self-supervised methods to better understand biological sequences and related data, with the goal of advancing biology and medicine.
-
Environmental factors and early autoimmunity leading to type 1 diabetes in youth (TEDDY NCC2 follow-up)
Researchers continue a long-running study to understand environmental triggers that start autoimmunity and progress to type 1 diabetes in children aged 6–15.
-
T Lymphopenia After a Heart Attack: Could Restoring T Cells Help Your Heart Heal
A study at the University of South Florida aims to understand why certain immune cells called CD4+ T cells drop after a heart attack and whether boosting them could improve heart recovery.
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.