Understanding how caspases control cell death in diseases like Alzheimer's
Official title: Discovering and Exploiting Caspase Regulatory, Allosteric and Exosites
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11128594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special enzyme called caspase-6 affects cell death in diseases like Alzheimer's, and the researchers are working on a new treatment that could help protect brain cells while still allowing necessary cell death in cancer, aiming to improve care for people with Alzheimer's and similar conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $392,175 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM149348-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related neurodegenerative conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-neurodegenerative conditions or those not diagnosed with Alzheimer's may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of caspases, a type of enzyme, in regulating cell death, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. The team is focusing on developing a specific inhibitor for caspase-6, which has been found to play a significant role in neurodegeneration. By targeting unique regulatory features of caspases, the researchers aim to create therapies that can prevent harmful cell death while allowing beneficial cell death in cancer treatment. This approach could lead to more effective treatments for patients suffering from Alzheimer's and other related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that slow down or prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting caspases for therapeutic purposes, but this specific approach focusing on caspase-6 is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hardy, Jeanne Ann — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Hardy, Jeanne Ann
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.