Understanding the different shapes of tau proteins in Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Structural profiling of tauopathy seeds
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10585846 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain proteins related to Alzheimer's can change shape in ways that might make the disease worse, and it aims to find ways to spot these changes early in people, even before they show any symptoms, to help improve understanding and treatment of Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,230,000 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1AG076459-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10585846 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease or those showing early signs of cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tauopathies that are not related to Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how tau proteins, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies, can adopt various harmful shapes that contribute to disease progression. By using advanced imaging techniques, the study aims to identify these distinct tau conformations and develop algorithms to predict their structures based on genetic factors. The goal is to enable early diagnosis of tauopathies by detecting these conformations in patients before symptoms appear. This could lead to better understanding and management of Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using structural profiling of proteins for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joachimiak, Lukasz a. — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Joachimiak, Lukasz a.
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.