Understanding gene control in vascular dementia
Official title: Enhancer RNAs and enhancer-centric gene regulatory networks in vascular dementia
Funded at University of South Florida · NIH-11171349 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how special genetic signals called enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) might contribute to vascular dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $150,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AG084918-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171349 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to help those with vascular dementia or related cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments will not directly benefit from this early-stage basic science.
What this research studies
Our bodies have special genetic signals called enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) that help control how our genes work, especially during disease. We are exploring how these eRNAs are involved in vascular dementia, a condition affecting memory and thinking due to blood flow issues in the brain. We previously found eRNAs linked to brain damage after a stroke in mice, and now we want to find specific eRNAs that appear as vascular dementia develops. To do this, we will use advanced genetic mapping techniques in a mouse model that mimics the brain changes seen in vascular dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these eRNAs could lead to new ways to diagnose or treat vascular dementia.
How similar studies have gone: This team has previously identified eRNAs linked to brain injury in mice, making this a novel but building upon prior work in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Florida
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dharap, Ashutosh — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Dharap, Ashutosh
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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.