TMEM106B, GRN, and TDP-43: exploring human samples and models to understand FTLD-TDP biology
Official title: The TMEM106B-GRN-TDP43 triad: leveraging human samples and humanized models to unravel FTLD-TDP disease mechanisms
Funded at Flanders Interuniv Inst Biotechnology · NIH-11381082 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how TDP-43-related brain changes cause FTLD-TDP by using human samples and human-like models to uncover disease mechanisms that could inform future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Flanders Interuniv Inst Biotechnology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gent, Belgium) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $538,380 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG084672-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381082 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with FTLD-TDP or related neurodegenerative conditions, and individuals providing human tissue or cell samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not contributing tissue, samples, or data or those with non-FTLD dementias may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses human brain-derived samples and humanized models to study how TDP-43 aggregates develop and cause damage in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Researchers will examine how TMEM106B and progranulin (GRN) interact in human cells and tissues to influence disease pathways and neuronal loss. The work aims to identify disease mechanisms with translational potential that could guide future therapies for FTLD-TDP and related dementias. Because it combines human material with models designed to mimic human biology, findings may be more directly relevant to patients than traditional animal studies. The study runs from 2024 through 2029 and is funded to advance our understanding of FTLD-TDP biology at a mechanistic level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This research could reveal new targets for therapies to slow or prevent FTLD-TDP in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that humanized models and human samples can reveal disease mechanisms not captured by mice alone, supporting potential progress here.
Where this research is happening
-
Flanders Interuniv Inst Biotechnology
Gent, Belgium Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rademakers, Rosa — Flanders Interuniv Inst Biotechnology
- Study coordinator: Rademakers, Rosa
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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.