Targeting a blood-vessel sensor to improve brain blood flow in Alzheimer's
Modifying endothelial Piezo 1 function to improve brain perfusion in AD/ADRD
This project explores whether boosting a blood-vessel sensor called Piezo1 can restore healthier brain blood flow in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300975 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers aim to understand how a blood-vessel sensor called Piezo1 helps control blood flow in the brain and how it fails in Alzheimer's disease. They use mouse models that develop amyloid, lab experiments on endothelial cells, drugs that activate Piezo1, and analysis of human single-nucleus RNA data to compare changes seen in patients. The team will look for links between Piezo1 loss, reduced brain perfusion, inflammation, microglial activation, and white-matter damage. The goal is to determine whether restoring Piezo1 function can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury that contributes to dementia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, especially those in early or pre-symptomatic stages with amyloid pathology or evidence of reduced brain perfusion, would be the most relevant candidates for related future trials.
Not a fit: People whose dementia is due to non-amyloid causes or who are in very advanced stages of disease may be less likely to benefit from therapies targeting Piezo1.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new treatments that restore brain blood flow and slow or prevent cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows vascular mechanisms can influence brain blood flow and dementia risk, but directly targeting endothelial Piezo1 is a new and early-stage approach.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marrelli, Sean P — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Marrelli, Sean P
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 below.