Creating a human-mouse brain model to study tau protein in Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Develop a human-mouse chimeric brain model for studying tau pathology in human neuron in vivo
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11038432 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a special brain model using human and mouse cells to learn more about how tau protein problems contribute to Alzheimer's disease, with the hope of finding new ways to treat or prevent this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $274,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS140907-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11038432 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 65 and older who are experiencing cognitive decline or have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 65 or do not have any cognitive impairments related to Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a unique human-mouse chimeric brain model to better understand tau pathology, which is a key factor in Alzheimer's disease. By integrating human neurons into a mouse brain, the researchers hope to replicate the tau protein aggregation seen in human Alzheimer's patients. This model will allow for the investigation of how tau pathology develops and spreads, and its impact on cognitive decline. The ultimate goal is to identify potential therapeutic interventions that could help treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's disease that target tau pathology more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various models for studying Alzheimer's, the specific approach of using a human-mouse chimeric brain model is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Ranjie — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Xu, Ranjie
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.