STAT3-activated astrocytes and brain blood vessels in Alzheimer's disease
Official title: STAT3 activation in astrocytes as a driver of neurovascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11417900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a specific brain cell type called astrocytes that show a STAT3 activation signal may cause blood-brain barrier problems in Alzheimer's and related dementias, with goals to understand who is affected and how this process works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 19, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $664,760 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129735-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417900 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and those at risk may be candidates for future studies or samples.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without ADRD or without a related mechanism involving astrocyte STAT3 activation may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If successful, the research will explore how activated astrocytes influence blood vessels in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The team will use human tissue, cell culture models, and possibly patient-derived data to study the communication between astrocytes and brain blood vessels. By mapping astrocyte states and their impact on vascular health, the work aims to identify potential targets to protect or restore the blood-brain barrier in ADRD patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal new strategies to protect brain blood vessels and slow dementia progression in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests astrocyte states influence vascular health, but how STAT3 activation drives dysfunction in ADRD is not yet proven, making this a promising but exploratory effort.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lippmann, Ethan — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Lippmann, Ethan
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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.