Mitochondrial Gasdermin-D and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s and related diseases
Official title: Mitochondrial Gasdermin-D propagates neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in Alpha Synucleinopathy
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11426545 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how mitochondrial gasdermin-D drives brain inflammation and nerve cell damage in Alzheimer’s-type conditions and related synucleinopathies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,711 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS150276-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11426545 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia with Lewy bodies, especially those with certain genetic or biomarker profiles.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Alzheimer’s-type dementia or synucleinopathies may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will explore how mitochondria-derived signals activate brain immune cells leading to inflammation and neuron loss in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The project uses human-derived cells, animal models, and genetic data to map how alpha-synuclein aggregates trigger inflammasome pathways and pyroptosis. The goal is to identify molecular checkpoints that could be targeted to reduce brain inflammation and slow degeneration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to treat or slow progression of Alzheimer’s and synucleinopathies by dampening harmful brain inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that reducing inflammasome activity can lessen neuroinflammation and damage in related models, supporting potential benefit for humans.
Where this research is happening
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Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Panicker, Nikhil — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Panicker, Nikhil
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.