Understanding how copper affects brain health and diseases like Alzheimer's
Official title: The Role of Copper in Choroid Plexus
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10980630 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how copper moves into a part of the brain that helps make the fluid around it, and it hopes to find out if having too much or too little copper could be linked to Alzheimer's disease, using animal models to learn more about how this works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $502,292 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS134958-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10980630 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals under 21 years old who are at risk for or diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with neurological conditions unrelated to copper metabolism or those over 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of copper in the choroid plexus, a key part of the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid. It aims to understand how copper is transported into the brain and how imbalances in copper levels may contribute to conditions like Alzheimer's disease. The study will use animal models to explore the mechanisms of copper transfer and its impact on brain function during development. By examining specific copper transporters and their interactions, the research seeks to clarify the relationship between copper homeostasis and brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders linked to copper imbalance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding metal ion transport in the brain can lead to significant advancements in treating neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lutsenko, Svetlana — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Lutsenko, Svetlana
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.