Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Impact and therapeutic effects of selective TERT activation in Alzheimers disease

Award Number: K01AG088489
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2031

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Impact and therapeutic effects of selective TERT activation in Alzheimers disease - Project Summary/Abstract Candidate: Dr. Shim is an instructor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center who has developed a unique set of expertise in genetically engineered mouse models, cellular and molecular biology, human iPSC-derived neuron systems, and identification of small-molecule TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) activator compounds. Through his graduate/postdoctoral studies, Dr. Shim has established a productive track record, with six (6) first-author research papers published in high impact peer-reviewed journals including Cell, Nature Aging, Cancer Research, PLOS Biology and EMBO Reports. In addition, Dr. Shim has filed three (3) patents based on his research findings during his postdoctoral period and was recently honored as a recipient of MD Anderson's Excellence in Science Award. Dr. Shim’s research has been funded by NIH R01 grant, Mathers Foundation and Belfer Neurodegeneration Consortium at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Career Development/Training: Dr. Shim’s long-term goal is to establish an independent research program, where he will elucidate molecular mechanisms and functional impact by which TERT plays a role in natural aging and age- related diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These findings will translate into the development of novel therapeutic interventions for preventing and treating age-associated disorders. The K01 award will help in achieving this goal by advancing his training in in-depth mechanistic understandings of neural network dynamics and development of therapeutic agents in AD therapy. The very inspiring scientific environment at MD Anderson Cancer Center, along with the support of a strong mentorship committee, will not only provide him with the expertise and facilities necessary for the completion of his projects, but also prepare him to transition smoothly into an independent faculty position and lead his own research team. Research: The growing aging population has accelerated the burden of AD, increasing the need for innovative treatment strategies. Dr. Shim’s recent studies (Shim et al., Nature Aging 2021; Shim et al., Cell, 2024) provided preclinical pharmacologic proof-of-concept for somatic TERT activation therapy in attenuating normal aging and AD pathogenesis. This proposal is the first step toward elucidating the molecular mechanism of physiological TERT activation on key pathological hallmarks of AD and developing preclinical therapeutic strategy for AD. Aim 1 will characterize the neurobeneficial effects of genetic TERT activation in tau pathology and neuroinflammation in AD using well-established and novel inducible mouse and human models. Aim 2 will evaluate the efficacy and elucidate the mechanisms of recently developed TERT activator compound (TAC) to reduce tau pathogenesis and neuroinflammation in human and mouse models. The completion of these aims will generate molecular signatures database from genetic and pharmacological TERT activation and provide a potential novel therapeutic and interception strategy for AD.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $100,802 )
2026	2026	THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Aging Research	000	1	7/28/2026	NEW	$100,802
														Subtotal = $100,802

Grand Total All Awards = $100,802

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Impact and therapeutic effects of selective TERT activation in Alzheimers disease

Award Number: K01AG088489

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2031

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer