Understanding how TDP-43 clumps cause brain cell damage in dementia
Official title: Determining mechanisms regulating TDP-43 pathology, the link between aggregation and dysfunction
Funded at Saint Louis University · NIH-11606638 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team is studying how clumps of TDP-43 protein mess with brain cell functions in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, with the goal of identifying what goes wrong and where.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Saint Louis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $568,590 |
| NIH project number | 2R56NS114289-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11606638 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, or researchers studying TDP-43 pathology, may benefit from future therapeutic developments.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not guaranteed in the short term as the work is preclinical and foundational.
What this research studies
This project investigates how TDP-43 protein clumps form and how those clumps disrupt normal cell functions in diseases like AD/ADRD and related disorders. Using cellular models, the scientists will track how aggregation affects TDP-43’s role in regulating its own transcripts and other important genes, aiming to map the sequence of events from clump formation to cellular dysfunction. The work could point to new targets to slow or prevent brain cell damage in patients with these dementias. Participation would involve laboratory studies and potential future translational steps that could benefit patients directly. Overall, the project seeks to clarify a key mechanism that links protein clumping to disease processes, advancing the search for meaningful interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining a clearer target for therapies that could reduce brain cell damage in Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown TDP-43 pathology is associated with loss of function, but the exact link between aggregation and dysfunction is not fully understood, making this approach novel and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ayala, Yuna — Saint Louis University
- Study coordinator: Ayala, Yuna
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.