Professor Stuart Lipton awarded $5 million to study the chemical biology of air pollution on the human brain The grant from the NIA/NIH will support research into how air pollution could lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
October 01, 2024
LA JOLLA, CA Stuart Lipton, MD, PhD, professor and Step Family Foundation Endowed Chair, and Tomohiro Nakamura, PhD, Institute Investigator in the Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center and Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, have been awarded about $5 million from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to study the impacts of air pollution on the human brain specifically, how air pollution could contribute to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
The NIA grant will support research over a five-year period as he and his team investigate how pollution sources including vehicle exhaust, wildfires contribute to a chemical reaction discovered by Lipton referred to as SNO and how this impacts the development of Alzheimer's disease. NIA, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is focused on expanding our scientific understanding of the nature of aging, improving the health and well-being of older adults, and supporting and conducting research on aging and the challenges and needs of older adults.
The NIA's award shows not only how dedicated the organization is to improving human health, but its confidence that Scripps Research has the potential to make an enduring impact on these serious diseases, Lipton says.
SNO is a reaction that results from exposure to air pollution, which causes nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) atoms to combine with a sulfur (S) atom on a wide variety of proteins and disrupt their function, resulting in brain damage. This reaction, termed S-nitrosylation, has been observed to cause a SNO storm of reactions in Alzheimer's brain neurons by Lipton and his team. A recent paper from the Lipton group in the journal Science described many of the biochemical pathways affect by the aberrant SNO storm in the brain.
In collaboration with Scripps Research professor John Yates III, PhD, Lipton's research uses mass spectrometry to discover the proteins that undergo SNO reactions and potentially contribute to the development of Alzheimer's and other dementias. Identifying these SNO proteins is a critical step in developing new therapeutic targets for diseases, while potentially also helping inform strategies on controlling air pollution.
Climate change, caused by human actions affecting the composition of air in the atmosphere, has already had a critical impact on global health. It's vital that we continue to expand this body of research to inform strategies and new therapeutics that address human disease influenced by environmental factors, Lipton says.
Along these lines, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) recently made a companion award for Lipton to study the chemical biology of air pollution in autism and intellectual disabilities.
At Scripps Research, Lipton's lab focuses on investigating molecular signaling pathways in order to prevent neuronal and synaptic injury that occurs as the human body ages, as well as in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other forms of dementia. His research into the drivers of Alzheimer's disease has already led to real-world results. Lipton is well-known for developing the FDA-approved drug memantine marketed commercially as Namenda , Namenda XR , and Namzaric represents one of only two medicines approved to treat moderate-to-severe forms of Alzheimer's. The drug is also used off-label for other forms of dementia, such as vascular dementia caused by multiple strokes and Lewy body dementia.
Neuroscience Molecular and Cellular Biology Lipton, Stuart
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
05/05/2026
SVG is proud to announce Warner Bros. Discovery's Techwood Studios in Atlant...
05/05/2026
With no operator required, AutoMic workflow automates talent identification on U...
05/05/2026
A crash in 2015 set the industry back, but this winter proved that drones are he...
05/05/2026
Another year, and more proof that Asia continues to shape some of the world's most exciting new sounds. This year's RADAR artists draw from deep local r...
05/05/2026
The Austin City Limits Music Fest 2026 lineup just dropped, and this year, Spoti...
05/05/2026
New drum machine book campaign incoming
Bjooks have announced that during Superbooth 2026, they will be launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund the product...
05/05/2026
Flagship all-in-one production bundle updated
The latest version of Native Instruments' flagship virtual instrument and plug-in bundle has just been ann...
05/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz to host RF Testing Innovations Forum 2026, helping design engine...
05/05/2026
L3Harris provides communications, electronic warfare, sensors and mission systems that enable Virginia-class submarine crews to operate with confidence in conte...
05/05/2026
The company grew by 7.6% in net revenue and 16.3% in EBITDA, achieving a 33% inc...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
Professor Stuart Lipton awarded $5 million to study the chemical biology of air pollution on the human brain The grant from the NIA/NIH will support research into how air pollution could lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
