Four Scientists Awarded $3 Million for High-Impact Research to Advance New Answers for Tau-Driven Diseases

Investment underscores a shared commitment to advancing the next wave of discoveries for neurodegenerative diseases driven by tau pathology

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, one of the largest independent funders of neurodegenerative research, in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association^®, the Aging Mind Foundation, and CurePSP, today announced $3 million in grants to fund four innovative research projects spanning over two years, stemming from the 2026 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop. 

Tauopathies are a group of devastating neurodegenerative disorders driven by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein, including Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite recent scientific advances, effective treatment options remain limited, and many questions remain about the molecular mechanisms that drive disease onset and progression.

To date, the Rainwater Charitable Foundation has invested over $165 million in medical research. This year, four proposals will be funded based on their potential to advance understanding of tau biology and inform future diagnostic strategies using novel tools and approaches:

• Carlo Condello, PhD, University of California, San Francisco (Awarded $750,000): This research aims to reveal the molecular heterogeneity of cell type-specific tau conformers in 4-repeat (4R) tauopathies such as PSP and CBD. Dr. Condello and his co-investigators will leverage human brain samples, stem cell models, and animal models combined with a multidisciplinary approach to investigate how neuronal and glial cell environments influence the formation of disease-associated tau strains. The goal is to elucidate novel mechanisms and biomarkers, potentially providing new directions for more precise molecular therapeutics.
• Daniel C. Lee, PhD, University of Kentucky (Awarded $750,000): This research investigates how the tau modification citrullination interacts with phosphorylation to influence tau structure, aggregation, and disease-associated forms of tau. Unlike phosphorylation, citrullination is irreversible, raising the possibility that citrullinated tau may promote distinct and persistent disease-associated protein assemblies. Dr. Lee will measure how citrullination impacts tau aggregation, structure, and oligomer formation to provide a new understanding of how citrullination alters tau behavior and establish innovative tools for investigating protein misfolding.
• Edward B. Lee, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania (Awarded $750,000): This research investigates how tau fibers bundle together and interact with nearby cell structures in PSP with the hope of uncovering whether neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes generate distinct forms of tau pathology. Leveraging advanced laboratory methods and cutting-edge cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), Dr. Lee and his lab aim to reveal why PSP affects certain brain regions and why symptoms may vary between patients to provide new opportunities for precise and effective therapies for related neurodegenerative diseases.
• Sue-Ann Mok, PhD, University of Alberta (Awarded $750,000): This research examines aggregate structures in de novo and seeded tau aggregation reactions to rapidly identify specific tau modifications that help drive or disrupt the formation of disease-associated aggregate structures. Using limited proteolysis assays, single molecule mass photometry (SMMP), and cryo-EM, Dr. Mok and her team will track how "blueprint" tau molecules interact during the earliest stages of aggregation and explore how specific versions of tau control the formation of disease-associated aggregates. The goal is to identify key mechanisms that influence tau aggregation and support the development of future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

"As the burden of neurodegenerative disease continues to grow, it's paramount we invest in innovative science that can unlock new paths toward diagnosis, treatment, and prevention," said Jeremy Smith, President of the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. "We are grateful to our partners for helping make these grants possible and are proud to support the progress of these investigators and the insights they may generate for patients and families affected by these debilitating diseases."

Launched by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation in 2023, the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop is a targeted funding initiative designed to accelerate progress in primary tauopathies by bringing together interdisciplinary experts around a single topic to address unmet needs. This year's workshop focused on exploring the structural and thermodynamic properties of tau protein and its interactions with other pathologies, with participating investigators challenged to uncover new insights into the molecular mechanisms that drive tau aggregation and disease.

The upcoming 2027 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop seeks to uncover how biological factors including sex, age, metabolism, and cell identity can shape cellular vulnerability, resilience, and disease processes in primary tauopathies. For more information, please visit www.tauopathychallengeworkshop.com.

About the Rainwater Charitable Foundation's Medical Research
The Rainwater Charitable Foundation (RCF) was created in the early 1990s by Richard E. Rainwater, the late private equity investor and philanthropist. When Richard was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative disease and primary tauopathy called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), the RCF expanded its mission to accelerate the development of new diagnostics and treatments for tau-related neurodegenerative disorders. The RCF Medical Research Team supports this focus by managing the Tau Consortium, the Rainwater Prize, and the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop. With over $165 million invested in medical research to date, the RCF has helped to advance eight treatments into human trials. Currently the RCF supports a range of programs, including a focus on family economic security, medical research, and other initiatives that expand opportunity and strengthen communities. For more information, please visit rainwatercharitablefoundation.org.

About the Alzheimer's Association^®
The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia^®. Visit alz.org or call +1 800.272.3900.

About the Aging Mind Foundation
The Aging Mind Foundation (AMF) raises money to fund scientific research that seeks the causes of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Since 2013, AMF has awarded significant grants to support innovative research. By investing in discovery and innovation, AMF is committed to reducing the devastating impact of dementia on individuals, families, and communities. Aging Mind Foundation is a project of Players Philanthropy Fund, Inc., a Texas nonprofit corporation recognized by IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 27-6601178). To learn more, visit www.agingmindfoundation.org.

About CurePSP
CurePSP is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the awareness, care and cure for three neurodegenerative diseases: progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). As a catalyst for new treatments and a cure, CurePSP establishes important partnerships and funds critical research internationally. Through its advocacy and support efforts, CurePSP enhances education, care delivery and quality of life for people living with PSP, CBD and MSA and their families. Science, community and hope are at the heart of CurePSP's mission and all its services. CurePSP is a registered 501(c)(3) charity within the United States (EIN: 52-1704978).

Corporate Contact
Jordan Brainerd
The Rainwater Charitable Foundation
+1 (817) 820-2708
[email protected]

Media Contact
Alex Thorson
Spectrum Science
+1 (202) 587-2531
[email protected]

SOURCE The Rainwater Charitable Foundation