Noncanonical autophagy activators to help dementia patients
Official title: Discovery of Noncanonical Autophagy Modulators for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias
Funded at San Diego Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11357310 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH project searches for safer, more precise ways to boost the brain’s cleanup systems to help people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $541,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS149189-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357310 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias could benefit from future therapies derived from these autophagy-activating compounds.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage research may not yield a safe or effective treatment for all patients, and results in animals or cells may not translate to humans.
What this research studies
This project aims to find novel molecules that activate autophagy in brain cells, helping clear harmful protein aggregates seen in Alzheimer's and related dementias. Researchers will build two cell-based screening platforms that can identify compounds with different ways of triggering autophagy. Hits will be tested further to confirm their effects on neuronal health and proteostasis, with an emphasis on specificity and reduced toxicity. The work uses neuronal models and synthetic libraries to explore new chemical space for potential therapies. If successful, these findings could guide future drug development aimed at slowing or altering disease progression in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new therapeutic options that improve brain cell health and slow symptom progression for people with Alzheimer's and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Previous autophagy-targeting approaches faced specificity and safety challenges, making this exploratory dual-platform strategy particularly novel and promising.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Otomo, Takanori — San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Otomo, Takanori
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.