Convolutional neural networks to predict Alzheimer’s risk and find biomarkers
Official title: Convolutional Neural Network for Disease Prediction, Biomarker Discovery, and Validation in Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of Nevada Las Vegas · NIH-11337873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A student-friendly AI project uses neural networks to help predict who might develop Alzheimer’s and discover genetic biomarkers using large Alzheimer’s datasets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Las Vegas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Las Vegas, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $303,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R15AG083618-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11337873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for or affected by Alzheimer’s disease who may later benefit from improved risk prediction and biomarker insights.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to large datasets or cloud resources may see less immediate benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to build scalable AI models that combine genetic, clinical, and imaging data to predict Alzheimer’s disease risk. It will expand existing workflows to a secure cloud platform, improving model training, interpretation, and visualization. The effort also includes hands-on AI training for undergraduate students, enabling them to work with real-world neuroscience data. The work leverages established data resources like NIH dbGaP, NIAGADS, and ADNI to improve predictive accuracy and biomarker discovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could enable earlier detection and personalized risk profiling for people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ML approaches with genetic data have outperformed traditional models, suggesting potential here, though cloud-based scaling is a newer element.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Las Vegas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Jingchun — University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Study coordinator: Chen, Jingchun
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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.