A faculty member at Wayne State University School of Medicine has been awarded a total of $2.3 million from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health for two new, concurrent projects that both address questions related to Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, age-related disease. degenerative brain disease characterized by memory problems, impaired judgment, cognitive problems and personality changes.
Joongkyu Park, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology and neurology, is the principal investigator of “Local Protein Synthesis in Neurodegeneration of Tau Pathology,” a five-year, $1.9 million R01 research project that seeks to understand how tau Pathology proteins alter biogenesis in neuronal compartments. Brains with Alzheimer’s disease, or AD, show the presence of increased protein deposits, such as intracellular tau inclusions (neurofibrillary tangles) and extracellular beta-amyloid deposits (senile plaques). Dr. Park will test whether pathogenic forms of tau specifically disrupt dendritic protein synthesis and determine whether the effect contributes to the pathological features seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
The second grant, “Redirected CaMKII for restoring Deficits in Alzheimer’s Disease Models,” is a two-year, $413,915 R21 exploratory/developmental project that aims to investigate and understand how redirected calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-alpha affects neuronal dysfunction and memory improves. deficits in Alzheimer’s disease models.
The most striking symptom is significant cognitive impairment associated with significant loss of dendritic spines and ultimately the neurons themselves. Because these end stages are usually irreversible, it is critical to identify suitable molecular targets for intervention before synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss become permanent.”
Dr. Joongkyu Park, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology and neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Brains with AD show the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
“However, changes in synaptic structure, function, and plasticity appear before these pathologies develop in several AD models, highlighting the pathological significance of early-stage synaptic changes, possibly mediated by AD-associated proteins, as a proximal event in the etiology of AD,” says Dr. Park said. “Our laboratory focuses on local translation change (R01) and CaMKIIa mislocalization (R21) in the AD context. Using novel molecular approaches we have recently developed, we will study how these mechanisms are altered in AD and how molecular understanding can be used to alleviate or reduce pathological features.”
The grants are based on previous work carried out in the Parklab.
“I am honored, humbled and excited to continue our research on synapse biology in the context of Alzheimer’s disease with these two new NIH grants,” he said.
“As Alzheimer’s disease increases, innovative research is key to unlocking hope and transforming care for millions affected,” said Ezemenari Obasi, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation at Wayne State University . “These new NIH grants led by Dr. Park will provide an opportunity for important research to help develop new insights into Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and potential therapeutic interventions that could one day change the lives of many. “
The grant numbers for these National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health awards are R01AG089566 and R21AG083760.