CD98hc shuttles to carry ready-made brain-protecting antibodies into the Alzheimer’s brain
CD98hc Brain Shuttles for Delivering Off-the-shelf Neuroprotective Antibodies in Alzheimer's Disease
This project develops a CD98hc 'shuttle' to carry off-the-shelf antibody medicines into the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease to protect brain cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are attaching commonly available antibodies to a CD98hc binding piece that helps them cross the blood-brain barrier and reach brain tissue. They will test different shuttle designs to find which delivers the most antibody into the brain parenchyma and stays there longest. The team will study how aging and Alzheimer’s-like disease affect the shuttle’s ability to transport antibodies and monitor safety markers in treated animals. Finally, they will collect proof-of-concept data on whether shuttled antibodies reduce disease signs in an Alzheimer’s mouse model to support future clinical work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s—typically older adults (commonly 65+)—would be the likely candidates for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer’s pathology, those with non‑Alzheimer dementias, or individuals too frail for experimental therapies are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could let antibody drugs reach the brain more effectively and slow or prevent Alzheimer’s-related damage.
How similar studies have performed: Prior brain-shuttle work focused on the transferrin receptor and showed delivery and safety limits, while early preclinical results with CD98hc shuttles show improved brain retention but have not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tessier, Peter M — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Tessier, Peter M
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 below.