Understanding how certain proteins protect against Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Mutant Tubulins Confer Resistance to Pathological Tau
Funded at Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res · NIH-11124938 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how changes in a protein called tubulin might protect against the harmful tau protein found in Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $244,021 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG073455-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124938 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation at this stage, but future clinical trials based on these findings would seek individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related tauopathies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not affected by tauopathies or neurodegenerative diseases would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Alzheimer's disease and similar conditions, known as tauopathies, are a growing concern with no current treatments that can change the disease's course. This project investigates how a modified protein, tubulin, could reduce the damaging effects of the tau protein, which accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. We are using tiny worms (C. elegans) to see if altering tubulin levels can improve movement and protect brain cells. We will also study how tubulin and tau interact in test tubes and in mammalian brain cells to understand the underlying mechanisms. This work aims to uncover new ways to protect brain cells from damage in neurodegenerative diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for developing treatments that protect brain cells from the damage caused by tau protein in Alzheimer's disease and other related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel, building on recent discoveries that mutant tubulin can modify tau-related problems in laboratory models.
Where this research is happening
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Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benbow, Sarah Jean Zimmerman — Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res
- Study coordinator: Benbow, Sarah Jean Zimmerman
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.