Proteins that form amyloid and how to stop them using mass spectrometry
Official title: Protein Amyloid Formation and Inhibition Studied by Mass Spectrometry
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11390474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use advanced mass spectrometry to understand how amyloid proteins begin to form and to find compounds that stop this process, with a focus on diseases like Alzheimer's and dialysis-related amyloidosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $398,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM145272-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults at risk for or living with Alzheimer's disease or dialysis-related amyloidosis, who may benefit from future therapies targeting amyloid formation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without amyloid-related conditions may not directly benefit from this basic mechanism-focused study.
What this research studies
This project looks at human proteins that can clump into amyloid fibers and cause serious diseases. It uses new mass spectrometry methods to observe the earliest steps of amyloid formation, which are hard to study with standard techniques. The team will then translate these insights into potential inhibitors that prevent amyloid from forming. The work is designed to reveal mechanisms at a molecular level and to move toward therapeutics for conditions like DRA and Alzheimer's disease. The project is run within the University of Massachusetts Amherst and led by Dr. Richard W. Vachet.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new ways to prevent or slow amyloid-related diseases by stopping early clumping of proteins.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work using mass spectrometry has provided insights into early amyloid steps, with growing evidence that such approaches can guide inhibitor development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vachet, Richard W — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Vachet, Richard W
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.