Creating a new way to remove harmful proteins in Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Development of a novel exosome-based nano-scavenger for targeted Amyloid-beta removal
Funded at Santa Clara University · NIH-11112213 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create tiny, natural particles to specifically clear away the harmful proteins that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Santa Clara University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Clara, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $513,740 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AG092927-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11112213 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational work is for patients with Alzheimer's disease, particularly those for whom current treatments are not fully effective or who are seeking new therapeutic options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Alzheimer's disease or amyloid-related disorders would not directly benefit from this specific therapeutic development.
What this research studies
Alzheimer's disease is caused by a buildup of toxic proteins called amyloid-beta in the brain. Current treatments have limitations, including side effects and difficulty reaching the brain effectively. This project is developing a new approach using tiny natural messengers called exosomes, which are good at traveling within the body and can be designed to carry specific tools. We plan to engineer these exosomes to both target the harmful amyloid-beta proteins and help break them down, offering a more precise and effective way to address the disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new approach could offer a more effective and targeted way to remove the harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease, potentially slowing or stopping its progression.
How similar studies have gone: While exosomes are being explored for drug delivery, engineering them to both target and degrade amyloid-beta proteins in this specific way represents a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Biao — Santa Clara University
- Study coordinator: Lu, Biao
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.