Lowering FKBP51 to help people with PTSD
Controlling FKBP51 for the treatment of PTSD
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 ID | NIH-11213855 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: People without PTSD or whose symptoms are driven by factors unrelated to FKBP51 overexpression are unlikely to benefit from FKBP51-targeted treatments.
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 performed: 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
Tampa, United States
- 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
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 below.