NIH-funded research Fellowship grant

Reversing tau pathology to improve serotonin function in early Alzheimer's disease

Official title: Reversal of Tau Pathology to Rescue Serotonergic Function in Early Alzheimer’s Disease

Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-10902655 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at whether a special DNA treatment can help fix problems with tau proteins in the brain, which might improve serotonin function and boost brain health for people with early Alzheimer's disease.

More s Disease research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Iowa
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Iowa City, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2024
Project endJuly 31, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$76,828
NIH project number1F32AG084196-01A1
Project IDNIH-10902655 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease who exhibit symptoms related to serotonin dysfunction.

Less likely to help

Patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease or those without tau pathology may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates how reversing tau protein abnormalities in the brain can help restore serotonin function in patients with early Alzheimer's disease. The approach involves delivering a specific DNA treatment to a brain region affected by tau pathology, aiming to reduce the harmful effects of hyper-phosphorylated tau. By targeting this pathology, the study seeks to understand if it can improve cognitive function and overall brain health in affected individuals.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that enhance cognitive function and quality of life for patients with early Alzheimer's disease.

How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting tau pathology is gaining interest, this specific method of using PP2A DNA delivery is novel and has not been extensively tested in human subjects.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Iowa
    Iowa City, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Kolling, Louis — University of Iowa
  • Study coordinator: Kolling, Louis

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.