Understanding how a genetic variant affects inflammation and infection response.
Official title: Interrogating the RIP kinase function of LRRK2 in chronic inflammation and susceptibility to infection.
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-10580464 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a certain gene linked to Parkinson's disease affects the immune system, especially how it can lead to more cell death during infections, which might help explain why some people get chronic inflammatory diseases; the findings could help patients understand how their genetics might influence their risk of infections and long-term health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | May 2, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $162,000 |
| NIH project number | 1K22AI174008-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10580464 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with the LRRK2-G2019S genetic variant or those suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without the LRRK2-G2019S variant or those not affected by chronic inflammatory diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of a specific genetic variant associated with Parkinson's disease in influencing the immune response, particularly in macrophages. It focuses on how this variant leads to increased cell death during infections, which may contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases. By examining the mechanisms behind this process, the research aims to uncover the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and immune system behavior. Patients may benefit from insights into how their genetic makeup affects their susceptibility to infections and chronic conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment options for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases and infections linked to genetic factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding genetic variants can lead to significant advancements in treating chronic diseases, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weindel, Catherine Gidley — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Weindel, Catherine Gidley
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Center for Youth Equity: A Community Path to Prevent Youth Violence
A Tulane-led effort partners with communities to reduce youth violence by addressing racism, strengthening local youth voices, and building sustainable prevention strategies.
-
Breeding colony expansion to support HIV/AIDS research with rhesus macaques
A funding opportunity to expand a specialized Rhesus macaque breeding population to support HIV/AIDS research at Tulane’s primate facility.
-
HIV Resilience Observatory in a rhesus macaque colony expansion
A program to build a rhesus macaque breeding colony and use AI-powered monitoring to study why some HIV/AIDS outcomes differ among individuals with similar backgrounds.
-
Indoor-Outdoor Housing Expansion to Support HIV/AIDS-Related Research
A HIV-focused project at a primate research center will use new indoor/outdoor housing and AI-assisted monitoring to study why people with similar backgrounds can have very different HIV outcomes.
-
Whole-body and organ aging clocks from blood proteomics during calorie restriction
This project follows people in long-term calorie restriction studies to see how blood proteins reflect aging across the whole body and specific organs.
-
Unlocking new vaccine ideas by studying ETEC biofilms
A medical research project at Tulane aims to learn how ETEC bacteria form biofilms and how this could lead to a better vaccine for children in low- and middle-income countries.
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.