RNA changes that drive harmful circRNA proteins in Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: RNA modifications leading to pathophysiological translation of circRNAs in AD
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11412718 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how chemical changes to circRNAs in the brain may create proteins that worsen Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $595,769 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG095675-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412718 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, or individuals whose brain tissue may be studied post-mortem or in cellular models derived from them.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Alzheimer's or related dementias are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
In this project, researchers will examine how RNA modifications in circular RNAs influence their ability to be translated into proteins in the Alzheimer’s brain. They will study brain tissue and cellular models to understand how inosine and other modifications affect circRNA translation and tau protein aggregation. The work builds on prior findings that circRNA-derived proteins may contribute to disease progression, and it will test mechanisms and potential readers that recognize these modifications. This could illuminate new molecular steps in AD/ADRD and identify targets to slow harmful protein buildup.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these RNA changes could reveal new targets for therapies to reduce harmful protein production in Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests circRNA modifications can drive protein production and may relate to disease biology, but translation of these findings to therapies remains exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stamm, Stefan — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Stamm, Stefan
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.