Alzheimer's brain imaging and biomarker program
Official title: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI4)
Funded at Northern California Institute/res/edu · NIH-11386134 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program uses brain scans, blood and spinal fluid samples to improve how Alzheimer's is detected and tracked for people at risk or with early memory problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern California Institute/res/edu NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2004 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $84,650 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AG024904-18S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386134 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults at risk for Alzheimer's, people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's symptoms, and those willing to undergo scans and give blood or CSF samples, with priority for underrepresented groups.
✕Less likely to help
People with advanced dementia, those unwilling to undergo imaging or provide biological samples, or those unable to attend participating sites are unlikely to see direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you join, they'll collect MRI and PET scans, blood and CSF samples, genetic data, and cognitive testing over time so changes linked to Alzheimer's can be tracked. They focus on validating new blood (plasma) biomarkers and linking imaging and fluid markers to future memory decline. ADNI4 will follow about 500 participants rolling over from ADNI3 and will work to recruit more people from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. The data and samples are kept in shared repositories so researchers worldwide can use them to design better clinical trials and tests.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to more reliable tests that detect Alzheimer's earlier and to more representative trial designs that work for diverse groups of patients.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier ADNI phases have produced thousands of publications, informed major clinical trials (including aducanumab), and established many widely used Alzheimer's biomarkers.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern California Institute/res/edu
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weiner, Michael W — Northern California Institute/res/edu
- Study coordinator: Weiner, Michael W
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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.