PSPA’s Understood Appeal for raising funds for CBD & PSP research has now concluded. Thanks to your generosity and support, we raised £1,003,000, which will drive forward progress by supporting innovative PSP research projects. We are excited to announce that, using the funds raised, we have now awarded four small research grants, which will begin this year and help us better understand Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. This incredible fundraising milestone was only made possible by your generous donations and support, all of which have brought us closer to improving and making a meaningful impact on the future of PSP & CBD. Continue reading to learn more about the four small research grants awarded from the Understood Fund.
- Understanding Astrocytes – The Brain’s Hidden Helpers
This study, funded by the Fred Piper Research Grant, will be headed by Dr Dianne Lopez, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Bowles Lab, part of the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh. Her year-long research project will focus on studying brain cells called astrocytes, which are affected by PSP. Dr Lopez will grow human brain cells in the lab and study how astrocytes deal with harmful and healthy tau protein, which accumulates in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
The study aims to understand if astrocytes help spread tau around the brain, and the potential for new ways to slow or stop the disease in the future. Long-term goals are focused on possibly targeting astrocytes in future PSP treatments. The funding from the Understood Fund will support key components of the study, such as reagents to help with cell culture, antibodies, and the use of a specialist microscope for detailed cellular analysis.
- Investigating Protein Imbalance in PSP
The second small research grant, funded by the Aileen and David Heath Memorial Grant, has been awarded to Dr Filipa Henderson Sousa, also based in the Bowles Lab in the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh. She will receive two years of support from the Understood Fund to explore how PSP disrupts the delicate balance of protein production, folding, and breakdown, also known as proteostasis.
Dr Henderson Sousa and her team will try to understand how disease-causing genetic changes in the tau gene disrupt proteostasis in neurons and astrocytes. They will check how such changes affect a cell’s ability to recover, leading to insights that could help identify early warning markers and future drug targets. The Understood funding will be used to culture and maintain the cells for the study, and also cover mass spectrometry costs for sample analysis.
- Using Smartphones and AI to Improve Diagnosis
The next small research grant funded by the Aileen and David Heath Memorial Grant has been awarded to Dr Michele Hu, an Honorary Consultant Neurologist at Oxford University Hospitals. Her PSP research project has the potential to transform how Progressive Supranuclear Palsy is distinguished from Parkinson’s Disease at earlier stages using a smartphone app to measure movement. There are many similarities between symptoms of PSP and Parkinson’s, especially in the early stages. The app Dr Hu is testing has already been validated in people with Parkinson’s and used to collect data from people with Atypical Parkinsonism.
The purpose of this study is to use AI to identify patterns that can distinguish between these conditions. With a version of the app also being used in another trial within the NHS, Dr Hu’s team is hoping new data from this project can be added to the app to be ready for further clinical testing. The grant money will go towards funding a PhD student working as the lead analyst, helping to move this promising app closer to more extensive NHS trials within two years.
- Uncovering the Role of TRIM11 in PSP
The final small research grant has been awarded to Dr Sumi Bez, a Research Fellow, who will spend seven months investigating a gene called TRIM11, which may influence why PSP affects people differently. The nine different forms of PSP currently identified are based on how TRIM11 influences the progression of the disease in different individuals.
Dr Bez will investigate the effect of genetics on levels of TRIM11 in the brain, how it interacts with tau, and will measure its levels in patient samples. This study aims to pave the way for future therapies that could boost TRIM11 levels to slow the progression of PSP. The funding will cover laboratory costs, including the use of specialised equipment, TRIM11 protein materials, and detailed data analysis.
Why research matters
These ground-breaking research studies are vital for transforming CBD & PSP diagnosis, treatment, and care. More importantly, they bring hope, clarity, and a chance of a better future for people affected by these conditions.
“Dad was my strength and my best friend, so watching him deteriorate so quickly was heartbreaking. We’re getting closer to breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment, but we need donations to turn this life-changing research into reality. By coming together, I really do believe we can stop families in the future from going through what we did.” – Jon Garrard (Trustee).
