p(UG) RNA Quadruplexes and ALS: How RNA shapes stress granules and TDP-43 pathology
Official title: p(UG) RNA Quadruplexes as Nucleators of Stress Granules and Modulators of TDP-43 Pathology in ALS
Funded at University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences · NIH-11423777 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at people with ALS, this grant tests how a specific RNA shape helps stress granules form and how that affects disease-related TDP-43 changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Juan, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $745,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R16NS150184-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423777 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with ALS or related motor neuron disease, whose samples or data could be used to study RNA structures and TDP-43 behavior.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient’s ALS is driven by mechanisms unrelated to RNA pUG structures, direct benefits may be limited.
What this research studies
This project investigates how certain RNA structures, especially pUG quadruplexes, influence stress granule behavior in ALS and how that relates to TDP-43 pathology. Using cellular and molecular approaches, researchers will explore how RNA folding drives condensate formation and protein interactions that may contribute to ALS. The work builds on prior findings that RNA structure, not just sequence, guides stress granule dynamics and disease-relevant changes. If successful, it could illuminate new molecular targets for slowing or altering disease processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these RNA-driven processes could lead to new strategies to slow TDP-43 pathology and ALS progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests RNA structure influences stress granules; this project extends those findings toward human ALS pathology and is innovating in this specific RNA folding area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences
San Juan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bajaj, Lakshya — University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences
- Study coordinator: Bajaj, Lakshya
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.