RHOA signaling and brain vessel health in dementia
Official title: Mechanisms of RHOA signaling in regulating vascular integrity and development
Funded at Western Washington University · NIH-11291030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study testing how a protein called RHOA affects brain blood vessels to understand its connection to Alzheimer’s-related dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Western Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bellingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $460,658 |
| NIH project number | 1R15HL184202-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11291030 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia conditions who have or are at risk for vascular-related brain vessel problems.
✕Less likely to help
People without dementia or without vascular brain involvement may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how small RHOA protein controls the stability and development of brain blood vessels, which can influence brain health in people with Alzheimer’s. Researchers will study the role of RHOA and its partners in endothelial cells, using models that mimic brain vessel formation and integrity. The findings could help identify new targets to prevent vascular problems that worsen dementia. The work builds on prior lab studies and will look for in vivo evidence of RHOA’s effects on the brain’s blood vessel system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could uncover molecular targets to preserve brain vessel integrity, potentially slowing progression of vascular-associated dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior cell culture work suggests RHOA can both protect and disrupt endothelial barriers; this study aims to confirm in vivo relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Western Washington University
Bellingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pillay, Laura — Western Washington University
- Study coordinator: Pillay, Laura
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.