Finding approved medicines that might help people with Alzheimer's and related dementias
Systematically screening and validating drug repurposing candidates for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
We are searching for existing approved medicines that could help people with Alzheimer's and related dementias by using genetic data and health records to find promising candidates.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251781 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will mine large genetic datasets and electronic health records to identify approved drugs that appear linked to better outcomes in people with Alzheimer's and related dementias. They will rank and prioritize these repurposing candidates using computational methods and real-world patient data. Promising drugs will be checked in laboratory models and further examined in patient records for safety signals and signs of benefit. If leads look strong, the process is designed to move them more quickly into clinical testing where patients could participate.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, and in some cases those with particular genetic markers or medical histories relevant to a given candidate drug.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's or those with very advanced disease, severe medical contraindications, or incompatible medications may not benefit from the identified repurposing candidates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal safe, already-approved drugs that slow decline or improve symptoms, speeding access to new treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Drug repurposing has produced promising leads in Alzheimer's but few proven treatments so far, so this systematic approach is hopeful but not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wei, Wei-Qi — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wei, Wei-Qi
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 below.