California Researchers Secure Thirteen Million Dollars to Combat RNA Pollution Linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

UC San Diego leads a 13 million dollar research initiative to eliminate RNA pollution and protect the aging brain from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 6:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

Targeting the Genetic Debris of the Aging Brain

A multi-institutional team of scientists from the University of California San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Sanford Burnham Prebys has launched an aggressive four-year study to investigate the root causes of neurodegenerative decay. Supported by a 13 million dollar award, the initiative moves away from traditional symptom management to address what researchers describe as RNA pollution. According to Gene Yeo, PhD, a professor at UC San Diego, this pollution consists of mistakes made by brain cells when processing genetic instructions, which accumulate over several decades and leave the brain susceptible to devastating illnesses.

Direct Cellular Transformation Bypasses Traditional Modeling

To accurately study the progression of these diseases, the research team is utilizing a sophisticated technique known as transdifferentiation. Unlike standard stem cell methods that inadvertently reset a cell's biological clock, this process converts patient skin cells directly into neurons while preserving their original biological age. This method allows investigators to observe how RNA pollution develops in real-time within cells that have already experienced decades of aging. The study aims to map these genetic signatures across more than 200 distinct cell lines, providing a comprehensive look at the divergence between healthy aging and pathological decline.

The Collaborative Network of California Scientists

The initiative brings together a diverse group of experts, including co-principal investigators Douglas Galasko, MD, and Fred “Rusty” Gage, PhD, to facilitate a broad-spectrum analysis of brain health. By examining patient biofluids such as spinal fluid and blood plasma, the team intends to identify specific markers that signal the presence of toxic RNA buildup. Furthermore, the project will look into the role of mitochondrial energy production, investigating how failures in cellular power plants might accelerate the accumulation of genetic errors. This wide-ranging collaboration is designed to ensure that the findings are robust and representative of the complex human aging process.