New types of 4‑repeat tau brain disease
Identification of novel four repeat tauopathies through analysis of network vulnerability, tau structure and propagation.
This work looks at unusual 4‑repeat tau protein structures in the brain to help people with Alzheimer’s disease and related tau disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232308 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine human brain samples with high‑resolution cryo‑electron microscopy to map the exact shapes of 4‑repeat (4R) tau protein filaments. They will compare filament structures and regional patterns across people diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, Alzheimer‑type dementia, and other presentations to identify distinct disease types such as the recently described limbic‑predominant neuronal inclusion 4R tauopathy (LNT). The team will study where these tau types appear in brain networks and how they spread, linking structural findings to clinical symptoms and pathology. This approach combines detailed structural imaging with clinicopathologic comparison to better define and classify 4R tau diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with Alzheimer disease dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, or other suspected 4R tau disorders, and brain donors with those diagnoses, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People whose cognitive problems are caused by non‑tau conditions (for example, pure vascular dementia or exclusively amyloid‑driven disease) may be less likely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve diagnosis and point toward more targeted treatments for tau‑related dementias.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work using cryo‑EM has already defined atomic structures of tau filaments in PSP and related tauopathies, enabling the discovery of new filament folds and supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vidal, Ruben — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Vidal, Ruben
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.