King's College London lands £3.8m for brain ageing secrets

July 29, 2026

South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

Scientists at King's College London are diving deep into how our brain cells protect themselves from damage and ageing. This vital research, backed by a £3.8 million grant, could unlock new ways to fight neurodegenerative diseases.

Unlocking the secrets of brain cells

The major funding boost will allow researchers, co-led by King's College London and University College London, to explore how neurons can shield themselves from toxic protein build-up. This is a key factor in conditions like Alzheimer's and motor neuron disease.

Professor Jernej Ule, a leading neuroscientist at King's College London, is co-leading the project. He explained the significance of the research.

"Our project aims to reveal how genes and environmental factors work together to maintain the delicate balance of condensates within cells," Professor Ule said. "We will study the crosstalk between interstasis and the known protein clearance mechanisms to help explain how neurons remain healthy during ageing."

A new discovery called 'interstasis'

The study builds on a recent discovery called 'interstasis'. This is a mechanism where cells manage proteins that tend to clump together. These clumps, called 'condensates', help cells organise important molecules.

However, if these condensates aren't controlled properly, they can turn into harmful protein clumps. The new research will investigate how interstasis might prevent this from happening.

Dr. Mathieu Bourdenx, Group Leader at the UK DRI at UCL, highlighted the collaborative effort. "We will study the crosstalk between interstasis and the known protein clearance mechanisms to help explain how neurons remain healthy during ageing," he commented.

This groundbreaking work could lead to a better understanding of how our brains age and how to keep them healthy for longer.

Author

South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

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