Understanding brain sugar patterns to support memory and healing
Official title: Chemical approaches to understanding chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans and their roles in brain plasticity and pathology
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11330615 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to uncover how brain sugar molecules called chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans influence brain plasticity, memory, and repair, with potential implications for Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $644,471 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG087519-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330615 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with Alzheimer’s disease dementia or related cognitive syndromes who may be eligible for future translational studies or who could contribute samples or data.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those without Alzheimer’s-related conditions may not directly benefit from this basic-chemistry study.
What this research studies
This project uses chemistry and brain biology to study how specific sulfation patterns on chondroitin sulfate molecules affect brain function. Researchers will create and test new chemical tools to observe and manipulate these sugars in the brain, focusing on how they relate to plasticity, memory, and repair after injury. By identifying which sulfation motifs matter, the work hopes to reveal targets for reducing inflammation and promoting neuronal healing in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. The team has already developed models lacking certain motifs in the brain and will build on these findings to explore functions of the CS A and CS E motifs. The goal is to connect molecular structure to brain behavior and to create methods that could someday support therapies for cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new approaches to modulate brain plasticity and inflammation, potentially informing future therapies for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed that specific sulfation patterns affect brain networks and memory in animal models, suggesting a promising foundation for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hsieh-Wilson, Linda C — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Hsieh-Wilson, Linda C
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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.