Targeting TREM2 in Alzheimer's using existing medicines
Drugs repositioning to target TREM2 in Alzheimer disease
This project looks for already-approved drugs that can bind and boost TREM2 to help people with late-onset Alzheimer's disease, especially those with TREM2 risk variants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299463 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use computer-based screening to find approved or available drugs that can attach to TREM2, a protein tied to Alzheimer's risk. Promising hits will be tested in laboratory experiments to confirm binding and to see how they change immune-cell signaling through two different TREM2 sites. The researchers will study whether drug binding can restore immune activity reduced by Alzheimer's-linked TREM2 variants. Successful candidates could be advanced toward testing with patient samples or future clinical work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with late-onset Alzheimer's disease, particularly those known to carry TREM2 genetic variants, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's disease or whose condition is not driven by TREM2-related immune changes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify approved drugs that restore TREM2-related immune function and speed development of new treatment options for people with Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: TREM2 has strong genetic and preclinical support as an Alzheimer's target, but repurposing approved drugs to act on TREM2 is largely exploratory and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Song, Yuhua — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Song, Yuhua
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.