Understanding how proteins misfold and developing ways to fix them
Official title: Elucidating the roles of protein disaggregases and developing enhanced diaggregases to counter diverse protein-misfolding disorders
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10841875 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain proteins can help fix other proteins that are not shaped correctly, which can cause serious health problems like brain diseases, heart issues, and some cancers, with the goal of finding new ways to keep our cells healthy and prevent these diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $594,657 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM153303-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10841875 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, heart conditions, or certain types of cancer related to protein misfolding.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to protein misfolding or those who do not have any of the targeted disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the critical role of protein disaggregases, which help correct misfolded proteins that can lead to serious health issues like neurodegenerative diseases, heart disorders, and certain cancers. The approach involves enhancing the activity of these disaggregases to improve cellular health and prevent the collapse of the protein homeostasis system. By studying how proteins fold and misfold, the research aims to develop new therapeutic strategies that could reverse or prevent the effects of protein misfolding in various diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that restore proper protein function and improve health outcomes for patients with protein-misfolding disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in enhancing protein disaggregases, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in treating related disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jackrel, Meredith E. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Jackrel, Meredith E.
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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.