Understanding how the body's own genetic material can cause brain inflammation
Investigation of Self-Nucleic Acids as a Trigger for Neuroinflammation
This research explores how our body's own genetic material might mistakenly trigger inflammation in the brain, especially in conditions like Aicardi-Goutières syndrome and ALS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093351 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies have a natural defense system that usually recognizes harmful invaders like viruses. This project looks into whether this same defense system can sometimes mistakenly identify our own genetic material as a threat, leading to inflammation, particularly in the brain. Researchers are studying how a specific enzyme, ADAR1, helps prevent this confusion and what happens when it doesn't work correctly, as seen in conditions like Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. Understanding this process could help us learn more about the causes of brain inflammation in diseases such as ALS.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for patients with conditions like Aicardi-Goutières syndrome and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) who are interested in understanding the underlying causes of their disease.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not related to immune system overactivity or genetic material misidentification may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat neuroinflammation and autoimmune conditions by targeting how the body's immune system reacts to its own genetic material.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies on Aicardi-Goutières syndrome have already shown a connection between self-nucleic acid activation and autoimmune responses, providing a foundation for this work.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Hachung — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chung, Hachung
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 below.