# Targeting protein synthesis dysregulation in Down syndrome-associated cognitive impairments with aging

> **NIH NIH R01** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $351,976

## Abstract

Supplement to R01AG073823 PI: Ma
Abstract
This project for the R01 proposal focuses on elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying
aging-related cognitive impairments in Down syndrome (DS). The central hypothesis to be tested
for the main R01 grant is that upregulation of the capacity for de novo protein synthesis, via
suppression of eEF2K and eEF2 phosphorylation, will improve multiple aging-related
pathophysiology in DS including synaptic failure and cognitive deficits. A key rationale for the
project is based on our findings that levels of eEF2K phosphorylation are abnormally high in brain
tissue from both DS patients and DS mouse models. For this supplement, we propose to
investigate, within the scope of the currently funded R01 grant (AG073823, PI: Ma), the effects of
neuronal eEF2K overexpression on synaptic and cognitive function by taking advantage of a novel
transgenic mouse model (eEF2K cKI) that we have recently generated.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10992329
- **Project number:** 3R01AG073823-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Tao Ma
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $351,976
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10992329

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10992329, Targeting protein synthesis dysregulation in Down syndrome-associated cognitive impairments with aging (3R01AG073823-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10992329. Licensed CC0.

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