Selective autophagy and aging in Alzheimer’s disease: a small-molecule approach
Official title: Role of selective autophagy in aging and neurodegeneration: a small molecule approach
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11470689 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing grant exploring how boosting the cell’s recycling system might protect brain cells in Alzheimer-related illness through a targeted drug approach.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,096 |
| NIH project number | 4R00AG080109-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470689 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and those at risk of progression may eventually benefit from therapies targeting selective autophagy.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Alzheimer’s-related conditions or those not suited to participate in early-phase pharmacology studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how aging affects brain cells and whether small molecules can enhance selective autophagy to clear toxic materials that build up in Alzheimer’s disease. The research will focus on how lipid droplets and damaged proteins are degraded in brain cells and how this process could prevent neurodegeneration. By testing targeted compounds, the team hopes to find strategies that support brain cell health in people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that help protect brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease by improving cellular cleanup processes.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies suggest that enhancing autophagy can influence neurodegenerative processes, but selective lipophagy as a therapeutic target remains under investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tan, Ee Phie — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Tan, Ee Phie
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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.