SPOP's role in tau-related brain disease
Official title: SPOP drives neurodegenerative tauopathy
Funded at Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res · NIH-11463455 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how a protein called SPOP affects tau-related brain damage in Alzheimer's-type conditions, using a small worm model to mirror human disease and look for ways to protect brain cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $634,085 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG078374-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463455 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, whose condition could benefit from advancements in understanding tau-related neurodegeneration and RNA processing pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias may not directly benefit from this basic research.
What this research studies
This project uses a genetically engineered C. elegans model to mimic human tau-driven neurodegeneration. It focuses on how pathological tau disrupts neurons and how loss of the nuclear speckle protein SPOP can rescue this damage. The team has previously identified genes linked to tau toxicity and will probe whether SPOP helps protect neurons by degrading specific substrates. The work connects tau pathology, RNA processing, and potential protective mechanisms that could inform future therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new targets to slow or prevent neuron loss in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, potentially guiding future treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies using tau models and nuclear speckle proteins have shown that modulating these pathways can influence tau toxicity, supporting further exploration in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kraemer, Brian C. — Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res
- Study coordinator: Kraemer, Brian C.
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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.