T cells in a rare juvenile form of ALS (ALS4)
Official title: T cell Immunity in a Rare Juvenile Form of Motor Neuron Disease
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11143833 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether certain CD8 T immune cells are linked to ALS4, a rare juvenile form of ALS, by studying mouse models and samples from people with ALS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $637,742 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS123287-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143833 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are people with ALS4 (juvenile ALS caused by SETX/ALS2-related mutations) or people with ALS who can provide blood or tissue samples for validation studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without ALS, or those with very advanced disease, or ALS types that do not show immune activation (or without relevant genetic changes) may not receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will study CD8 T cells found in the nervous system and blood of mice and people with ALS4 to see how they behave during disease. In mice they will transfer or remove these T cells and examine nerve tissue to see if that changes disease onset or progression. They will use molecular and network analyses to map how immune and nerve cells interact. Finally, they will check blood and tissue from people with other forms of ALS to see if similar T cell activation occurs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new immune-based tests or treatments that slow or change the course of ALS4 and possibly other forms of ALS.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked immune cells to ALS generally, but focusing on CD8 T cells in ALS4 and testing their causal role is a relatively new and early-stage approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marazzi, Ivan — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Marazzi, Ivan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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T cell roles in a rare juvenile ALS form (SETX-related)
A study to understand how immune cells, especially CD8 T cells, influence a rare juvenile form of ALS caused by SETX mutations.
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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.