Research Grant to Explore How Brain Immune Cells May Influence Alzheimer’s Progression
Posted on: Friday, February 20th, 2026
The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio has received a two‑year, $402,500 grant from the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund to support new research into how Alzheimer’s disease spreads in the brain.
The study is led by Sarah C. Hopp, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology whose lab focuses on microglia — the brain’s immune cells. Microglia normally help protect the brain by clearing waste and damaged proteins. However, Dr. Hopp’s previous work suggests these cells may sometimes accidentally contribute to the spread of toxic tau protein, a major driver of memory loss and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.
This research aims to uncover how microglia can be kept in their “protective mode,” which could lead to new treatments that slow or stop Alzheimer’s progression.
To read the full article, visit the UT Health San Antonio Newsroom.