Exploring the potential of targeting bystander protein clumps in MND to reduce harmful TDP-43 clumping.
Principal Investigator: Professor Jenna Gregory
Lead Institution: University of Aberdeen
MND Association Funding: £137,364
Funding dates: March 2026 - August 2029
About the project
In MND, some proteins don't work properly and form harmful clumps within cells. The main culprit is thought to be a protein called TDP-43, which forms clumps in over 95% of people affected by MND. However, other proteins, such as a protein called FUS, can also form clumps within cells alongside TDP-43. Researchers are beginning to understand that multiple different proteins forming clumps in cells might actually be more common in MND than just a single type of protein forming harmful clumps. Additionally, a previous study targeting FUS protein clumps was found to also reduce the amount of TDP-43 protein clumps, suggesting that a drug targeting one type of harmful protein may also help to remove other harmful protein clumps too. Based on this research, this study will try to better understand clumping of multiple proteins in MND and explore whether other proteins that form clumps in MND can be targeted to indirectly reduce the amount of harmful TDP-43.
What could this mean for MND research?
As targeting TDP-43 by itself is not thought to be safe, this project aims to find alternative approaches to reducing harmful TDP-43 clumps in MND by targeting other culprits, that in turn help to reduce TDP-43. It is hoped that this research could help to identify new targets and opportunities for therapeutic intervention in MND.
Project code: 2553-799