Finding molecules that help the hippocampus make and keep neurons in aging and Alzheimer's
Official title: New technologies to identify molecular regulators of the human hippocampus neurogenic niche in healthy aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-11320873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using new lab methods to find proteins and genes that help hippocampus cells make and maintain new neurons in older adults and people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $799,804 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG076949-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be older adults — including people with Alzheimer's disease — or families willing to donate brain tissue or participate in related clinical collaborations.
✕Less likely to help
People expecting an immediate therapy or symptom relief, or younger individuals without memory problems, are unlikely to get direct personal benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
This project looks at human hippocampus tissue from normally aging people and from people with Alzheimer's to see which cells are truly new and which stay immature. Scientists will use single-cell and regional molecular methods to map genes and proteins in individual cells and to trace cellular lineages. The team will compare patterns of cell birth, fate (neuron vs glia), maturation, and survival between groups to find molecular regulators. Results come from careful lab analysis of human brain samples rather than a drug treatment given to participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to molecular targets that might one day be turned into treatments to preserve or restore hippocampal neurons and improve memory and mood in aging and Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have reported mixed evidence for adult human hippocampal neurogenesis, and this project applies newer single-cell and protein/gene tools to clarify those unresolved findings.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dupont, Maura Boldrini — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Dupont, Maura Boldrini
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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.