Palmitoyltransferase and GBA1 function restoration in Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia
Official title: Identification of the Palmitoyltransferase for Glucocerebrosidase Trafficking Receptor LIMP2 and Restoration of GBA1 Function in Parkinson Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11453161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A fast-moving study looks at whether tweaking a fat-attachment process on proteins can restore healthy enzyme function and slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS146759-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453161 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia, or Dementia with Lewy bodies who might benefit from future therapeutic approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage research with models may not yet yield a treatment option for patients in the near term.
What this research studies
This project explores how changing palmitoylation, a chemical modification on proteins, affects the trafficking of the enzyme GBA1 and related pathways in neurons. Researchers will test a specific enzyme target and a small molecule inhibitor in cellular and animal models to see if it improves alpha-synuclein balance and neuron health. The work builds on prior findings that altering palmitoylation can reduce disease-associated protein changes and symptoms in models of PD and DLB. The study aims to identify mechanisms that could translate into disease-modifying strategies for synucleinopathies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to a new therapeutic approach that modulates protein trafficking to slow or halt progression in PD and DLB.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work suggests that modulating palmitoylation can correct cellular pathologies related to alpha-synuclein and improve disease-like features in models.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ho, Gary P. H. — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ho, Gary P. H.
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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.