Understanding TDP-43 to Help Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias
Official title: Functional and Pathological Interactions of TDP-43
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-11391474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team is studying TDP-43 protein clumps to better understand how this protein contributes to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, with the goal of finding new avenues for treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,887,198 |
| NIH project number | 2RF1NS116176-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with Alzheimer’s disease dementia or related dementias where TDP-43 pathology is involved, as well as patients contributing samples for mechanistic studies.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals with non-TDP-43 dementias may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how TDP-43 behaves and forms aggregates in brain cells and how these changes relate to Alzheimer’s-related dementias and motor neuron diseases. By mapping the molecular structures and interactions of TDP-43, they aim to uncover targets for therapies that could slow or stop damage in affected people. The project combines advanced structural biology with studies of how stress and mutations affect TDP-43’s function in disease. Outcomes may guide development of drugs or interventions that modify TDP-43 pathology in patients. The work is grounded in human disease contexts, including Alzheimer’s dementia and related conditions, to ensure relevance to patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new therapeutic strategies that reduce TDP-43-related damage in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown TDP-43’s role in neurodegeneration, but detailed atomic-level understanding remains incomplete and ongoing research is exploring new therapeutic angles.
Where this research is happening
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Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mittal, Jeetain — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Mittal, Jeetain
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.