We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Yongku Cho and his collaborator Dr. Jesse Rinehart from Yale University School of Medicine have been awarded $500,000 at the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop to investigate post-translational modifications in tau protein aggregates. These chemical changes, found in patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Frontotemporal Dementias (FTDs), may increase tau aggregation and toxicity, both of which are critical contributors to these neurodegenerative diseases.

Funded by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, CurePSP, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Aging Mind Foundation, the workshop took place in Chicago, bringing together leading neuroscience researchers from around the world to address critical knowledge gaps in tau pathology and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. With no current treatments available for PSP and FTDs—both of which severely impact quality of life—collaborative research like this is essential in advancing our understanding and treatment of these conditions.

Dr. Cho and Dr. Rinehart’s research will explore whether specific chemical changes in tau proteins make them more prone to aggregation and toxicity, a hypothesis that has yet to be conclusively tested. If successful, their findings could open new avenues for treatments, offering hope to those affected by these debilitating diseases.

Read more on the Rainwater Charitable Foundation.