Lowering FKBP51 to help people with PTSD
Official title: Controlling FKBP51 for the treatment of PTSD
Funded at James a. Haley VA Medical Center · NIH-11213855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether reducing a brain protein called FKBP51 can improve stress responses and symptoms in people with PTSD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James a. Haley VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX004626-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11213855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with PTSD—particularly Veterans and others who carry the FKBP5 rs1360780 genetic variant linked to higher FKBP51—would be the most relevant candidates for therapies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without PTSD or whose symptoms are driven by factors unrelated to FKBP51 overexpression are unlikely to benefit from FKBP51-targeted treatments.
What this research studies
Researchers are developing antisense oligonucleotide drugs designed to lower levels of FKBP51, a protein linked to stress responses in the brain. They will test these approaches in mouse models that either lack or overproduce FKBP51 and expose them to PTSD-like stress to see if reducing the protein changes behavior and brain chemistry. The team will measure trauma-related behaviors and molecular changes in the brain to judge whether FKBP51 is a promising target. The goal is to validate this approach so it could be translated into new treatments for PTSD in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that reduce PTSD symptoms by targeting FKBP51 in the brain.
How similar studies have gone: Antisense drugs have worked for some neurological disorders, but targeting FKBP51 for PTSD is largely experimental with promising preclinical evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
James a. Haley VA Medical Center
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blair, Laura J — James a. Haley VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Blair, Laura J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how PTSD affects self-control and brain function
Researchers are studying how PTSD changes the brain’s control over thoughts and actions, and how this might affect Veterans’ daily lives and responses to treatment.
-
Ketamine to boost fear extinction and memory on PTSD patients
A study testing whether ketamine can help people with PTSD better relearn and forget fear when given in a guided treatment plan.
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Treating PTSD and opioid use disorder in residential care with Written Exposure Therapy (WEST)
A short, patient-friendly plan to adapt a proven PTSD therapy for people with opioid use disorder in residential treatment and test its practicality and impact.
-
Dynamic PTSD-Related Cognitive Risk in Aging WTC Responders
This project follows World Trade Center responders as they age to understand how PTSD symptoms relate to changes in thinking skills over time.
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Identifying brain proteins linked to PTSD and alcohol use disorder
Researchers are studying brain proteins that may contribute to PTSD and alcohol use disorder in US veterans to find new ways to help people who struggle with both conditions.
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Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy for Veterans with Social Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms
A clinical trial tests whether a flexible brain-behavior therapy helps veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms feel better and engage more in daily life.
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.