DC1 Projects
The first iteration of the Dementia Consortium completed six projects and outcomes from these have demonstrated impact through scientific publications, conference presentations, and further funding and collaborations.
Modulation of CSF1R: a promising strategy to control neuroinflammati

Dr Diego Gomez-Nicola, University of Southampton
The project aimed to develop and optimise small molecule inhibitors and antibodies to block the interaction between CSFR1 and its ligand IL34. This project validated IL34 as a target for controlling microglial proliferation in the brain and demonstrated that targeting IL34, and not CSF1R appeared to be safer in preclinical models. The project also validated a series of assays for the identification of inhibitors of the IL-34:CSF1R interaction.
ALS disease models and therapeutic drug screen

Dr Marco Baralle, International Centre for Genetics Engineering and Biotechnology, Italy
The role of P2Y6R in mice in cognition, neuronal loss and tauopathy
![P2Y6R_Guy Brown The Dementia Consortium project provided…invaluable expertise and advice in translation and drug development…[the] hands-on expertise of the Dementia Consortium team was invaluable](https://www.dementiaconsortium.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/P2Y6R_Guy-Brown-circle.jpg)
Prof Guy Brown, University of Cambridge
The aims of this project were to examine the role and inhibition of the P2Y6 receptor expressed in microglia. Target validation of the P2Y6R as a novel dementia drug target, relevant to human disease with a critical role in excessive neuronal phagocytosis during neurodegeneration.
Developing novel small molecules as effective inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome
