Mechanistic Lipase Regulation to Restore Fatty Acid Balance in Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia
Official title: Mechanistic Dissection of Lipase (LIPE) Regulation of Fatty Acid Homeostasis as a Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia Therapeutic Strategy
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11336332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team is studying how a fat-processing enzyme (LIPE) affects brain lipid balance to develop new ideas for treating Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $661,230 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS133243-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336332 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body dementia or related synucleinopathies who could participate in future translational studies or biomarker investigations.
✕Less likely to help
People without PD or LBD or those unable to participate in research requiring biological samples or experimental therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how α-synuclein interacts with lipid membranes and fatty acids, using both lab dishes and animal models to understand how lipid imbalances relate to PD and LBD. It aims to validate LIPE as a therapeutic target and uncover how lipid–protein interactions at synapses influence disease. The work combines biochemical tests, cellular assays, and in vivo experiments to map how changing lipid content can restore cellular balance and potentially slow disease progression. The ultimate goal is to identify mechanism-based strategies that could be translated into therapies that normalize brain lipid homeostasis in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new approaches that restore healthy lipid balance in brain cells, potentially slowing or modifying PD and LBD progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked lipid dysregulation to α-synuclein pathology, supporting potential benefit from targeting lipid pathways, though direct LIPE-targeted approaches are exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanning, Saranna — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Fanning, Saranna
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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.