Understanding Protein Clumps in ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia
Official title: Unraveling the Aggregation of TDP43 Fragments Associated with ALS and FTD: Insights into Protein Quality Control Mechanisms and Cellular Vulnerability
Funded at Texas Woman's University · NIH-11221623 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how certain protein fragments clump together in brain cells, which is a key feature of diseases like ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Woman's University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denton, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2016 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $476,973 |
| NIH project number | 2R15NS095317-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11221623 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational laboratory research is relevant to patients living with or at risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD).
✕Less likely to help
Patients will not receive direct clinical benefit from this basic science research, as it focuses on understanding disease mechanisms rather than immediate treatment.
What this research studies
Our cells have ways to manage proteins and prevent them from clumping, but sometimes these systems don't work correctly, leading to diseases like ALS and frontotemporal dementia. This project looks closely at specific protein fragments, called TDP43 fragments, that are known to form harmful clumps in the brain. We want to understand how these fragments are created and how the cell's natural cleanup systems try to deal with them. By learning more about these processes, we hope to discover why some cells are more vulnerable to these protein clumps than others.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of how ALS, frontotemporal dementia, and related dementias develop, potentially paving the way for new treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Our lab has previously studied similar disease-linked protein fragments, identifying distinct cellular pathways that help protect cells from aggregation.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Woman's University
Denton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brower, Christopher Scott — Texas Woman's University
- Study coordinator: Brower, Christopher Scott
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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.