Current
Projects
A look at what we’re testing, building, and getting funded right now — where ideas meet execution.
Rebuilding Neurons: MAP1B as a Therapeutic Candidate in CTE
Principal Investigator: Eric Lechman, PhD
Project Lead: Silas Davidson
Scientific Advisor: Robert Clark, MD, Joseph Maroon, MD, FACS
Funded through Pitt.INC, this $50,000 project investigates whether overexpressing MAP1B can restore neuronal stability in cases of tau dysfunction, the hallmark of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Using in vitro neuronal models, the study explores MAP1B’s potential to compensate for tau loss by promoting microtubule integrity and neurite outgrowth. If the data demonstrate strong rescue effects, the work will advance toward in vivo validation with up to $350K in follow-up in vivo validation funding—an essential step toward a new class of therapeutics for tauopathies and related neurodegenerative diseases.
Beyond its scientific impact, the project aims to establish a translational framework for neurodegenerative research within academic settings—bridging fundamental neuroscience and therapeutic development.
We believe there’s more out there — more thinkers, more builders, more ideas waiting to be tested. You have the idea. We have the structure, funding, and support to make it real. Ready when you are.