Pick’s disease tau forms studied with stapled proteins
Official title: Pick's disease tau proteoforms via protein stapling
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11353455 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH grant is funding scientist-led work to create stable 3R tau protein mimics from Pick’s disease to understand how this rare brain condition starts and spreads.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $434,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG100901-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353455 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Pick’s disease or related 3R tauopathies could benefit from future therapies informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
This lab-focused project does not enroll patients; findings would primarily advance future disease treatments.
What this research studies
This project aims to make synthetic versions of the 3R tau protein found in Pick’s disease and test how these mimics seed tau misfolding in cells and in biophysical assays. Researchers will design a library of stapled tau constructs and screen them for seeding activity, then map their structure to understand how 3R tau aggregates form. The work uses advanced chemistry to model a human tauopathy so scientists can study disease mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic angles. The study is conducted at the University of Notre Dame with a focus on PiD, a rare form of frontotemporal dementia. If successful, these tools and insights could accelerate development of treatments that target early tau misfolding in PiD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with PiD and related tauopathies could benefit from a clearer path toward targeted therapies and improved understanding of disease progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous tau-targeting approaches have shown promise in understanding tau seeding, but this specific PiD 3R tau mimetic strategy is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Del Valle, Juan R — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Del Valle, Juan R
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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.