Understanding how immune pathways affect brain damage in Niemann-Pick disease

Mechanism of STING-mediated Neuropathology in Niemann-Pick Disease

NIH-funded research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10918134

This study is looking at how a part of the immune system called the STING pathway affects brain cell health in Niemann-Pick disease type C, which is a serious brain condition, and it hopes to find new ways to treat this disease and similar ones.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUt Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project IDNIH-10918134 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the role of the STING immune pathway in Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC), a severe neurodegenerative condition that shares similarities with Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to uncover how STING signaling is activated due to genetic mutations and how it contributes to brain cell death and inflammation. Researchers will analyze brain tissue to identify the types of cells involved and assess potential treatments using existing and new STING inhibitors in laboratory models. This work could lead to new therapeutic strategies for NPC and related neurodegenerative diseases.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease type C or those with genetic mutations related to this condition.

Not a fit: Patients with other forms of neurodegenerative diseases that do not involve the STING pathway may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for Niemann-Pick disease and potentially other neurodegenerative conditions.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in targeting immune pathways in neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Dallas, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndromeAlzheimer's Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.