Understanding how unusual RNA translation happens in neurological diseases
Official title: Critical Life Event Supplement: Mechanistic Basis for Non-Canonical Translation in Neurological Disease
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11581694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how RNAs can start making proteins in unexpected ways in neurodegenerative diseases, which could reveal new targets for therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $76,904 |
| NIH project number | 3R00NS124994-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11581694 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with degenerative neurological disorders could benefit from future therapies arising from this work, especially those related to abnormal protein production.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage basic research may not translate into immediate patient benefits.
What this research studies
This project looks at non-standard RNA translation that can occur in brain-related diseases, focusing on RNA structures and the proteins that interact with them. The team will use specially designed RNA sequences and disease-related repeats to map how translation starts in multiple reading frames. They will also search for chemicals or methods that can modify this translation, potentially slowing harmful protein production. The work combines cellular models and molecular techniques to uncover mechanisms that could inform future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify new ways to intervene in neurodegenerative diseases by targeting non-canonical translation pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that RNA structure influences non-canonical translation, but precise mechanisms remain to be clarified and are being explored here.
Where this research is happening
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State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shorrock, Hannah — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Shorrock, Hannah
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.