Regulation of a key brain enzyme linked to Parkinson’s and related dementias
Official title: Regulation of β-Glucocerebrosidase in Parkinson's disease and related dementias
Funded at University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-11388896 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to understand how improving the folding and movement of the enzyme GCase in brain cells could help people with Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,815,237 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1NS145335-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388896 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 have the GBA1 risk factor may benefit from advances stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without the GBA1 risk factor or those not experiencing cognitive symptoms may see indirect benefits rather than direct ones.
What this research studies
Parkinson’s disease and related dementias often involve harmful protein buildup in brain cells. The project focuses on how the enzyme GCase is created and moved inside cells, and how a helper protein GCIP1 might improve its maturation and delivery to the lysosome. By studying this process in models that resemble human disease, researchers hope to identify targets to prevent or reduce cognitive decline. If successful, the work could guide new strategies to preserve brain function in patients with GBA1-related risk. This is a basic-science-to-disease-translation effort aimed at broadening options for people affected by these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that improve brain protein handling and slow cognitive decline in PD, PDD, and DLB.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that correcting GCase processing can influence disease pathways, supporting potential for this approach, though translation to patients remains a step ahead.
Where this research is happening
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University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
Farmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xiong, Yulan — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Xiong, Yulan
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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.