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Project information
Integrative structural biology of pathological tau protein, an appealing therapeutic target for Alzheimer´s disease (InterTAU)

Investor logo
Project Identification
873127
Project Period
1/2020 - 6/2025
Investor / Pogramme / Project type
European Union
  • Horizon 2020
  • MSCA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Excellent Science)
MU Faculty or unit
Central European Institute of Technology
Project Website
https://www.intertau.eu/
Cooperating Organization
University of Pittsburgh
Oregon State University
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
AXON Neuroscience SE
University Health Network
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO
Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Geneton, s.r.o.
Datamedrix GmbH
Sanata Dharma University

There is an enormous unmet medical need to find efficient methods of prevention, diagnosis and disease-modifying therapies for tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease. The common molecular denominator of tauopathies are pathological forms of tau protein. Tau pathology relates to conformational changes during oligomerization and assembly resulting in toxicity. Given its role in the pathogenesis, conformationally altered and assembled tau would be promising molecular target for disease-modifying therapy. However, the field is still lacking deeper understanding of tau structural changes in the course of assembly and their inducers on the pathway towards the pathological forms of Tau; therefore, the pharma development is hampered. The main aim of the InterTau project is the detailed structural and biophysical characterization of tau protein and its variants in monomeric, oligomeric and fibril states relevant for AD and other tauopathies. The InterTAU consortium is composed of a clinical-stage biotech pursuing development of anti-tau immunotherapy and academic partners with cutting-edge methodologies suitable for functional and structural characterization of tau assembly pathway by solution and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), cryo-electron microscopy and cellular assays corroborated by bioinformatics. The mutual transfer of complementary expertise envisaged in the project will facilitate academic outcome and biotechnological development. Specific expertise will be transferred from three institutions in North America and one institution from Argentina. The results of InterTAU will be directly translated into innovation in pharmacological development through the non-academic partner. The platform for sharing knowledge will be a foundation of sustainable cooperation beyond the InterTau project.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.

Sustainable Development Goal No. 3 – Good health and well-being Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 – Quality education Sustainable Development Goal No. 17 – Partnerships for the goals

Publications

Total number of publications: 4

2024

2021

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