Understanding How Amyloid Fibrils Form in Diseases Like Alzheimer's and Type 2 Diabetes
Official title: Probing Amyloid Fibril Self-Assembly with Network Hamiltonian Simulations in Explicit Space
Funded at San Jose State University · NIH-11132710 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to uncover the mysterious process by which amyloid fibrils, linked to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes, begin to form.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Jose State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Jose, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $183,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150706-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132710 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with conditions linked to amyloid fibril formation, such as Alzheimer's disease or type 2 diabetes, are the ultimate beneficiaries of this foundational research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients will not directly participate in this computational modeling project, so there is no immediate direct benefit or risk for individuals.
What this research studies
Amyloid fibrils are abnormal protein clumps that play a central role in several serious human diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, and prion diseases. While we know what many of these fibrils look like, how they first start to form, a process called primary nucleation, remains largely unknown. This project uses advanced computer simulations to create detailed models of how these fibrils self-assemble. By understanding this initial step, we hope to gain crucial insights into how these diseases begin and progress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for developing treatments that prevent or slow the formation of harmful amyloid fibrils in diseases like Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: While the structures of many amyloid fibrils are known, the precise mechanism of their initial formation, especially primary nucleation, is still largely unexplored, making this approach novel in its focus.
Where this research is happening
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San Jose State University
San Jose, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grazioli, Gianmarc — San Jose State University
- Study coordinator: Grazioli, Gianmarc
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.