A system for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease using exosomes
Official title: Automated High-purity Exosome isolation-based AD diagnostics system (AHEADx)
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11085105 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new, easy way to use tiny particles called exosomes from your body fluids to help doctors detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease without needing invasive tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $757,851 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG084098-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085105 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals showing early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or those at high risk for developing the condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease or those who do not exhibit any symptoms related to cognitive decline may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an automated system for isolating high-purity exosomes to improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Exosomes are tiny vesicles that carry important biological information and can be found in various body fluids. By utilizing these exosomes, the research aims to create a non-invasive, point-of-care diagnostic test that can detect early signs of AD more accurately and efficiently than current methods. This approach seeks to overcome the limitations of existing diagnostic techniques, which are often invasive and costly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more accessible and accurate method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease at an early stage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using exosomes as biomarkers for various diseases, indicating potential success for this novel approach in Alzheimer's diagnostics.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Tony Jun — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Huang, Tony Jun
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.