Seeing disease-linked protein clumps at atomic scale
Micro Electron Diffraction of Toxic and/or Infectious Macromolecular Nanoassemblies
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11172480
This project uses a cutting-edge electron diffraction method to map the tiny, detailed shapes of protein clumps and infectious assemblies to help people with amyloid-related diseases and certain infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11172480 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a high-resolution method called MicroED to take atomic-level images of very small protein assemblies that are hard to visualize with other tools. They will combine those images with new computational and machine-learning tools to build 3D models of amyloids and other toxic or infectious nanoassemblies. The team focuses on complex, multimeric and dynamic structures that have resisted traditional approaches. The work is led at UCLA and builds on methods the lab has already developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with amyloid-related conditions (for example some forms of dementia or systemic amyloidosis) or patients affected by infections involving toxic protein assemblies who can provide samples or take part in related future studies would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People without amyloid-related conditions or relevant infections are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this structural research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal precise structural targets that speed development of better diagnostics and treatments for amyloid-related diseases and certain infections.
How similar studies have performed: MicroED and related high-resolution structural methods have recently solved several challenging protein structures, but applying them broadly to diverse toxic and infectious nanoassemblies is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: RODRIGUEZ, JOSE ALFONSO — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: RODRIGUEZ, JOSE ALFONSO
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 below.