Targeting microglial lipoprotein lipase to help with Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: Targeting Microglial Lipoprotein Lipase in Alzheimer's disease
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11472059 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how a brain fat-processing enzyme in immune cells affects Alzheimer’s disease and whether targeting it could slow or modify disease progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $15,467 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG079217-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11472059 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, especially those with APOE ε4 genotype or related lipid/metabolism risk factors.
✕Less likely to help
This research is preclinical and may not immediately benefit individuals without the identified risk factors or disease.
What this research studies
This project looks at how microglia—the brain’s immune cells—process brain lipids and how the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL) influences amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. By studying LPL in microglia, researchers hope to identify strategies that could reduce or slow plaque buildup and neuronal damage in people at risk for Alzheimer’s. The work combines lipid biology with Alzheimer’s disease biology to explore new therapeutic angles that could be translated to patients in the future. Findings could point to new ways to preserve brain health by modulating lipid handling in immune cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new therapies that slow Alzheimer’s progression by improving how brain lipids are processed.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests microglia and lipid metabolism influence Alzheimer’s pathology, but in vivo validation of LPL targeting is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bruce, Kimberley D — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bruce, Kimberley D
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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.