New medicines for Alzheimer's disease and related memory problems by focusing on a protein called TDP-43
Official title: Therapeutics targeting TDP-43 to treat Alzheimer's disease and related disorders
Funded at Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC · NIH-11123431 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for new medicines that target a specific protein, TDP-43, which is linked to memory decline in people with Alzheimer's disease and similar conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Doylestown, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,438,738 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AG068823-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123431 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, particularly those where the TDP-43 protein plays a role in their condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose dementia is not related to TDP-43 protein changes may not directly benefit from this specific therapeutic approach.
What this research studies
We know that a protein called TDP-43 often builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, and this buildup is connected to memory loss. This condition, sometimes called LATE, affects a significant number of people with dementia. Our team has found small molecules that can attach to TDP-43, stopping it from clumping together and potentially preventing its harmful effects. We believe these molecules could become new treatments for Alzheimer's and other related memory disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia that are linked to the TDP-43 protein.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel in its focus on specific small molecules to inhibit TDP-43 aggregation, though the importance of TDP-43 in dementia is increasingly recognized.
Where this research is happening
-
Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC
Doylestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reitz, Allen Bernard — Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC
- Study coordinator: Reitz, Allen Bernard
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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.