Investigating how tau protein changes contribute to Alzheimer's disease
Official title: A synthetic biology approach for tau post-translational modifications in AD
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11101295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes to a protein called tau, which can be harmful in diseases like Alzheimer's, affect its behavior and shape, with the hope of finding new ways to treat these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $590,590 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG083876-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11101295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who may have abnormal tau protein aggregation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-neurodegenerative conditions or those without tau-related pathology may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how specific modifications to the tau protein, which is known to be toxic in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, affect its structure and function. By using advanced synthetic biology techniques, researchers will create modified versions of tau to study how these changes lead to the formation of toxic aggregates. The study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind tau misfolding and its role in neurotoxicity, which could provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease by targeting tau protein modifications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding tau pathology, but this specific synthetic biology approach is novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cho, Yongku Peter — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Cho, Yongku Peter
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.