Stopping leaky calcium channels in the cerebellum for essential tremor
Official title: Targeting Cerebellar Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Handling in Essential Tremor
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11238453 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work tries to reduce tremor in people with essential tremor by correcting abnormal calcium leaks in a brain cell channel called RyR1.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $585,748 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS124854-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238453 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with essential tremor—especially those with progressive or medication-resistant tremor and those willing to consent to brain donation or clinic participation—would be the best matches for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose tremor is caused by other conditions (for example Parkinson-related tremor) or those seeking immediate symptom relief are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic-science-focused project.
What this research studies
From my perspective as someone with essential tremor, researchers are studying brains from people with ET and using a mouse that copies the same calcium-channel problem to learn what causes tremor. They focus on a specific calcium release channel (RyR1) in cerebellar Purkinje cells that becomes abnormally phosphorylated and leaky in ET. The team examines human brain tissue, measures biochemical changes, records cerebellar physiology, and tests interventions in mice and tissue to see whether stopping the leak lessens tremor. Their combined human-tissue and animal approach aims to connect the molecular problem to symptoms and point to ways to reverse it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to drugs or other treatments that reduce or slow tremor by fixing the underlying calcium leak in the cerebellum.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work from the same group found increased phosphorylated RyR1 in ET brains and mice with a matching RyR1 change develop tremor, but turning these findings into human treatments is still new.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuo, Sheng-Han — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kuo, Sheng-Han
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Vocal Tremor in Essential Tremor: Understanding Physiologic Cues in Older Adults
This grant studies why and how vocal tremor happens in people with essential tremor, aiming to better understand and describe voice changes in older adults.
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New therapies for essential tremor from cannabidiol mechanisms
A patient-facing overview of how cannabis-based medicines might help tremor by targeting specific brain receptors, aiming to find better and better tolerated treatments for essential tremor.
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Test to flag essential tremor patients at risk of Parkinson’s progression by detecting phosphorylated alpha-synuclein
A new test being developed for people with essential tremor to see who might later develop Parkinson’s disease.
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Clinical Pathology of Essential Tremor-Related Dementia
A patients-facing study asks how essential tremor may be linked to dementia, with the goal of better understanding risks and potential biomarkers for people living with ET.
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Personalized tremor relief for older adults using a new tremor-decomposition tool
A study aims to tailor tremor treatment for people 65 and older by refining a method that identifies which muscles cause tremor, with the goal of guiding practical, wearable relief options.
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PET scans to measure a brain protein (SV2A) in essential tremor
This project uses PET brain scans to look for changes in the SV2A protein in people with essential tremor to help diagnose and follow the condition over time.
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.