APOE genetic risk and brain border immunity in aging and Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Investigating the Effect of APOE Alleles on Neuro-Immunity of Human Brain Borders in Normal Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Using Single-Cell Multi-Omics and In Vitro Organoids
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11395239 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing look at how APOE gene variants may affect immune cells at the brain’s borders in aging and Alzheimer’s, using human-derived organoid and single-cell data.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $706,933 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079223-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395239 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals at risk for Alzheimer's or with early disease who consent to donate brain-tissue–like models or genetic information for research.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to the study’s tissue or data resources or those not contributing samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant studies how different APOE gene versions, especially APOE4, influence immune cells at the brain’s borders in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers will use human brain border organoids and single-cell multi-omics to map how APOE alleles change cell states and immune functions. The work aims to connect genetic risk with changes at the brain’s protective barriers, which could reveal new targets for therapies. The findings could help people with or at risk for Alzheimer’s understand how genetics might shape disease-related brain inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets related to brain border immunity in Alzheimer’s, potentially guiding personalized treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in model systems suggest APOE4 alters immune cell states, but human brain-border data are limited, making this approach novel yet grounded in existing biology.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Yanling — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wang, Yanling
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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.