Uncovering more about lipid changes in MND and assessing if targeting these changes could slow disease progression.
Principal Investigator: Dr Agnes Nishimura
Lead Institution: Queen Mary University of London
MND Association Funding: £254,101
Funding dates: September 2024 - August 2027
About the project
Lipids are essential molecules in our cells that play crucial roles in producing energy, forming structures within the cell called membranes and helping with communication between cells. Previous research has suggested that lipids may undergo changes in some forms of MND but it is not known why this happens or how this may be linked to the development of disease. Alterations in lipids have already been seen in cell models of MND which have a change in the FUS gene. This project will investigate these lipid changes further to better understand why they happen, how they affect the cells and the role they may play in the onset of MND. It will use different cell models, with changes in the three most common genes in MND (TARDBP, FUS and C9orf72), to see if the lipid changes occur in different types of MND. The research will also look into some drugs that might be able to reduce the effects of lipid changes on the cells and potentially slow down the disease.
What could this mean for MND research?
The project could help to improve current understanding of lipid changes in MND and shed more light on how they may be involved in disease development. Understanding more about the role that lipid changes may play in MND could help to highlight new pathways to target with potential treatments to slow down the disease process.
Project code: 2373-791