TARCC, AHA Grants to Aide TTUHSC Researcher

Vijayan to study VDAC1 and mitophagy in Alzheimer’s disease

• By Malcolm Brownell, Ph.D., and Mark Hendricks
• November 5, 2024
• Research

Murali Vijayan, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, has been awarded a research grant from the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) to investigate the role of Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1 (VDAC1) in Alzheimer’s disease.

The grant will support Vijayan’s research into how VDAC1 regulates mitophagy, a critical cellular process that helps maintain healthy mitochondria by removing dysfunctional mitochondria during periods of metabolic stress.

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a significant role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. By studying VDAC1, Vijayan aims to uncover novel mechanisms that contribute to this dysfunction, potentially leading to new therapeutic targets. The research will involve both in vitro and in vivo models to examine how disruptions in VDAC1 function may impair mitochondrial clearance and exacerbate neurodegeneration.

In addition to the TARCC grant, Vijayan recently received a career development grant from the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA award supports highly promising health care and academic professionals in the early years of their first professional appointment. Recipients use these grants to explore innovative questions and conduct pilot studies to provide preliminary data and the training necessary to assure the applicant’s future success as a research scientist.

“These two grants provide a unique opportunity to investigate the intersection of mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and develop innovative strategies to protect neurons and slow disease progression,” Vijayan added. “We are hopeful that our research will lead to meaningful advances in understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease.”