Non-Canonical Translation in Neurological Disease: How RNA Shapes Misbehavior in Junkie Repeats
Official title: Mechanistic Basis for Non-Canonical Translation in Neurological Disease
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11379534 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how certain RNA structures around CAG repeats can cause unusual protein production in neurological diseases, aiming to understand why these diseases happen and how to intervene for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,983 |
| NIH project number | 5R00NS124994-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379534 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with CAG repeat expansion disorders or related neurological conditions may benefit from future therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits may not be realized unless a specific therapy targeting non-canonical translation is developed and approved.
What this research studies
People living with CAG repeat-related neurological diseases could benefit from a clearer picture of how RNA structures influence abnormal protein production. The project uses a structure-forward approach to find RNA features and protein partners that enable translation without traditional start signals, across multiple reading frames. By studying long non-coding RNAs that support this non-canonical translation, researchers hope to identify new therapeutic targets and modifiers. The study is conducted at the State University of New York at Albany, led by Hannah Shorrock, and aligns with goals to translate basic biology into potential disease-modifying strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal new targets or strategies to limit harmful protein production and slow disease progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that RNA structure can influence translation, but this project explores new multi-frame, non-canonical translation pathways, making it relatively novel but grounded in existing biology.
Where this research is happening
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State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shorrock, Hannah — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Shorrock, Hannah
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.