What causes Lewy body dementia at the molecular and network level
Molecular and Network Analyses of Lewy Body Dementia Pathogenesis
Researchers will analyze proteins and sugar-related molecules in samples from people with Lewy body dementia and related dementias to find molecular patterns that could help diagnosis and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144483 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks for molecular differences that underlie Lewy body dementia and its subtypes, including Parkinson disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Researchers will use advanced lab techniques to profile proteins, glycoproteins, and glycans from patient-derived samples and brain tissue, then map how those molecules connect in biological networks. By comparing those molecular maps to Alzheimer disease samples, the team hopes to spot signatures that distinguish LBD from other dementias. The work aims to find biomarkers and biological pathways that could guide future tests or therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (including Parkinson disease dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies) or related Alzheimer-type dementias who can provide biological samples or participate at participating clinical sites.
Not a fit: People without Lewy body or related dementia, or those seeking immediate treatment changes, are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to diagnose Lewy body dementia earlier and identify targets for new treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Related protein- and sugar-focused molecular studies in other dementias have suggested promising biomarkers, but combining proteomics, glycoproteomics, glycomics, and network analyses specifically for LBD is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chin, Lih-Shen — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Chin, Lih-Shen
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.