The principal objective of the ResearchConsortium is implementation of a highly integrated, interdisciplinary approach to develop targeted molecular therapeutics for neurogenetic disorders, using the late-onset neurodegenerative disorder fragile X-associatedtremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS)as its principal research paradigm. FXTAS is one of the most common single-gene disorders leading to tremor, ataxia, and dementia. The fundamental challenge addressed by the Consortium is how to develop and integrate the various components required to achieve (and measure) a targetedtherapeutic response to a CNSdisorder. The Consortium will meet this challenge by forming a highly-integrated research core of fourResearch Projects that, in aggregate, involve more than thirty investigators from disciplines as diverse as chemistry, cellular neurophysiology, developmental pediatrics, mouse behavior, neuroimaging, neurology, psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. Projects span domains of molecular/cellular neuroscience (Project 1), animal models (Project 2), quantitative phenotyping and clinical trials (Project3), and cognitive neuroscience (Project 4), all with the common objectives of developing therapeutic interventions and quantitative means for assessing their efficacy. A T90 training component will enhance the power and cohesivenessof the Consortium by further interweaving the research efforts across Projects. The principal (non-traditional) objective of the T90 is to enhance the primary research objectives of the Consortium. The Consortium will be organized as an Institute (NeuroTherapeutics Research Institute; NTRI),with a Consortium Steering Committee (CSC), Internal Advisory committee (CIAC), and Community Advisory Board to provide scientific and administrative oversight and input from the community. The Consortium comprises six components, an administrative unit (U54), four research projects (R01), and a postdoctoral training component (T90). The U54 Component will facilitate the goals and objectives of the entire Consortium and provide the intellectual leadership to maximize integration across all components. This will lead to an environment in which the Consortium can flourish as a strong, dedicated community of faculty investigators, trainees, and staff that makes a significant contribution to the field of the neurodegenerative diseases and to the development of therapeutics to treat these diseases. The Consortium structure requiressignificant organizational planning and careful administration and oversight to achieve its scientific and educational goals. The duties of this U54 component include general administration, budgetary oversight, coordination of Consortium activities (meetings, colloquia, and conferences),training and outreach management, data sharing, and protection of human subjects and animals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Linked Specialized Center Cooperative Agreement (UL1)
Project #
8UL1DE019583-02
Application #
7495693
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRR1-SRC (99))
Program Officer
Riddle, Melissa
Project Start
2007-09-15
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2008-07-01
Budget End
2009-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$782,853
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047120084
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Ram, Suresh; Devapriya, Inoka A; Fenton, Grace et al. (2015) Axonal neuropathy in female carriers of the fragile X premutation with fragile x-associated tremor ataxia syndrome. Muscle Nerve 52:234-9
Hukema, Renate K; Buijsen, Ronald A M; Schonewille, Martijn et al. (2015) Reversibility of neuropathology and motor deficits in an inducible mouse model for FXTAS. Hum Mol Genet 24:4948-57
Muzar, Zukhrofi; Lozano, Reymundo; Schneider, Andrea et al. (2015) Methadone use in a male with the FMRI premutation and FXTAS. Am J Med Genet A 167:1354-9
Guyenet, Stephan J; Mookerjee, Shona S; Lin, Amy et al. (2015) Proteolytic cleavage of ataxin-7 promotes SCA7 retinal degeneration and neurological dysfunction. Hum Mol Genet 24:3908-17
Wong, Ling M; Goodrich-Hunsaker, Naomi J; McLennan, Yingratana et al. (2014) Eye movements reveal impaired inhibitory control in adult male fragile X premutation carriers asymptomatic for FXTAS. Neuropsychology 28:571-584
von Leden, Ramona E; Curley, Lindsey C; Greenberg, Gian D et al. (2014) Reduced activity-dependent protein levels in a mouse model of the fragile X premutation. Neurobiol Learn Mem 109:160-8
Yang, Jin-Chen; Niu, Yu-Qiong; Simon, Christa et al. (2014) Memantine effects on verbal memory in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS): a double-blind brain potential study. Neuropsychopharmacology 39:2760-8
Seritan, Andreea L; Nguyen, Danh V; Mu, Yi et al. (2014) Memantine for fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry 75:264-71
Hukema, Renate K; Buijsen, Ronald A M; Raske, Chris et al. (2014) Induced expression of expanded CGG RNA causes mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo. Cell Cycle 13:2600-8
Kim, So-Yeon; Tassone, Flora; Simon, Tony J et al. (2014) Altered neural activity in the 'when' pathway during temporal processing in fragile X premutation carriers. Behav Brain Res 261:240-8

Showing the most recent 10 out of 102 publications