Creating advanced brain models to speed up Alzheimer's drug development
Official title: Engineering Immuno-Glial-Neurovascular 3D-Brain-Chips with a Perfusable BBB for Accelerating Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery and Translation
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11101414 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a special 3D model of the brain using cells from people with Alzheimer's to better understand the disease and test new treatments in a way that closely resembles how the human brain works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $163,901 |
| NIH project number | 5K01AG083734-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11101414 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's Disease, particularly those carrying the APOE4 allele.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of dementia or those without a genetic risk for Alzheimer's may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a sophisticated 3D brain model that mimics the human brain's structure and function, specifically targeting Alzheimer's Disease (AD). By using patient-specific stem cells, the researchers aim to recreate the complex interactions between different brain cell types and the blood-brain barrier, which are crucial for understanding AD pathology. The project employs innovative microfluidic technology to ensure that the model can simulate blood flow, allowing for more accurate testing of potential therapies. This approach seeks to overcome the limitations of current models that do not fully represent human AD conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for Alzheimer's Disease by providing a better platform for drug discovery.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using advanced 3D models for drug discovery, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in Alzheimer's research.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stanton, Alice — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Stanton, Alice
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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.