Deep profiling of people at risk for frontotemporal dementia in India
Official title: Deep phenotyping and genotypic risk in presymptomatic family members of Frontotemporal dementia patients in India (D-PRIME-FTD)
Funded at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) · NIH-11284387 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows families with a history of frontotemporal dementia in India to find early signs and genetic risk factors before symptoms appear.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bangalore, INDIA) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $215,961 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG097670-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11284387 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are presymptomatic relatives of individuals with frontotemporal dementia in India and who are willing to undergo genetic and biomarker assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without inherited risk markers or those who choose not to undergo genetic/biomarker testing may not receive direct personal benefits.
What this research studies
Frontotemporal dementia often begins with changes in behavior, language, or movement, and can be influenced by inherited genes. The study will enroll presymptomatic relatives of FTLD patients in India to collect detailed clinical information, genetics, blood biomarkers, and advanced brain imaging. By tracing deep phenotypes and genotypic risk in about 300 high-risk individuals, researchers aim to map early disease signals and inform future preventive trials. The work will build on multimodal data to understand how the disease unfolds in a diverse population and prepare for future interventions. Participation could involve imaging, blood tests, and genetic analyses conducted with careful ethical oversight.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could help identify early indicators of FTLD and improve readiness for preventive therapies in diverse populations.
How similar studies have gone: Prior FTLD research in other populations has shown meaningful insights from presymptomatic profiling, though this study focuses on India’s diverse population.
Where this research is happening
-
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans)
Bangalore, India Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arshad, Faheem — National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans)
- Study coordinator: Arshad, Faheem
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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.