Alzheimer's Disease Research - Current Awards Robert Vassar, Ph.D.Northwestern University Title: BACE1 and Axon Guidance Summary: Pharmaceutical companies are developing drugs to block an enzyme, BACE1, which makes the toxic amyloid that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. Dr. Vassar and his team have shown results suggesting that these drugs may disturb the wiring of the brain and, therefore, may cause negative side effects such as problems with learning and memory. The goal of their research is to better understand the role of BACE1 in processes involved in brain wiring and then to use these results to guide drug makers on design of safer medicines. These results will also inform physicians of potential side effects of BACE1 targeted drugs and their possible remedies. Program: Alzheimer's Disease  Benjamin Wolozin, M.D., Ph.D.Boston University Medical Center Title: RNA Binding Proteins in Alzheimer's Disease Summary: RNA binding proteins (RBPs) regulate the conversion of messenger RNA into protein through the formation of complexes, termed RNA granules. Cellular stresses induce formation of a particular type of complex, termed the stress granules (SG). By examining SGs, the study authors have identified a new and previously unknown consequence of Alzheimer’s disease. In this project they are investigating how these SGs might contribute to the causes and may provide a method of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. Program: Alzheimer's Disease  Jessica W. Wu, Ph.D.Columbia University Medical Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Disease Research Title: Conformation-Dependent Uptake and Secretion Of Tau Mentor:
Karen Duff, Ph.D.
Columbia University Medical Center Summary: The tau protein is important for maintaining neuronal health in the central nervous system. When tau is misfolded, it accumulates and becomes a key pathological feature in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Dr. Jessica Wu and her colleagues have determined that misfolded tau is taken up in neurons. This project aims to document how misfolded tau is released from neurons and is then subsequently taken up by surrounding neurons to spread pathology in diseases. Program: Alzheimer's Disease  Kristine Yaffe, M.D.University of California, San Francisco Title: Glucose Regulation, Cognitive &Brain Changes in Elders Summary: By conducting our study aims, we will greatly advance our understanding of how diabetes and glucose regulation affect cognitive and brain aging. In addition, we will investigate several possible mechanisms linking diabetes to cognitive impairment. In so doing, we hope to identify strategies for prevention of cognitive decline among those with and at risk for diabetes. Program: Alzheimer's Disease  Wai Haung (Ho) Yu, Ph.D.Columbia University Medical Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease Research Title: Tau Homeostasis Via Proteasomal and Autophagic Activity Summary: Dr. Wai Haung Yu and colleagues will determine how the natural protein recycling systems, called the ubiquitin-proteasome (UPS) and autophagic-lysosome system (A-LS), act in concert to maintain healthy levels and quality of proteins. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), protein clumping is a hallmark that is often accompanied by failure of UPS and A-LS, suggesting that these two recycling pathways are important for disease prevention. Along with improving the understanding of these two mechanisms, these researchers will test drug candidates for enhancement of UPS and A-LS function in reducing tau clumping and for restoring long-lived UPS and A-LS protein recycling activity. Program: Alzheimer's Disease Last Review: 04/29/13 |
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