Alzheimer's disease: uncovering brain-wide metabolic and protein clues linked to vulnerable neurons
Official title: Mass spectrometry and multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging of metabolic and proteomic contributors to selective neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11381619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will map metabolic and protein signals in brain regions differently affected by Alzheimer's to find new clues for detection and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $706,162 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG078755-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for Alzheimer's pathology whose brain tissue is available for postmortem analysis across disease stages.
✕Less likely to help
Living patients may not directly participate in this postmortem study, though findings could inform future patient-centered research.
What this research studies
This project compares the prefrontal cortex, which tends to be heavily impacted early in Alzheimer's, with the visual cortex, which is less affected, using advanced imaging on postmortem brain tissue. They will combine mass spectrometry imaging with segmentation to map small molecules and proteins across brain regions and disease stages. Then, sequential multiplexed immunofluorescence will reveal how cells and their surroundings change during disease progression, aligned with clinical severity and pathology. By integrating these data, they aim to uncover region- and cell-type specific pathways that contribute to neuronal vulnerability and identify potential targets for detection and intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new biomarkers and targets to detect Alzheimer's earlier and to develop more targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary imaging and multi-omics studies have shown that regional brain changes accompany Alzheimer's progression, supporting this integrative approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Varghese, Merina Thekenangarpadiyil — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Varghese, Merina Thekenangarpadiyil
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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.