High-resolution maps of the hippocampus in aging and Alzheimer's
Spatially resolved multi-omics profiling of human hippocampus in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
This project will create detailed molecular maps of the brain’s memory region to show how aging and Alzheimer's change different cell types in people with and without the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308346 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will build a new method that measures DNA regulation, gene activity, and selected proteins all in the same thin slice of human hippocampus tissue. They will apply this multi-omics, spatial approach to samples from people with Alzheimer's disease and age-matched healthy donors to map which cell types and neighborhoods are altered. The work focuses on the hippocampus because it is central to memory loss in Alzheimer's and contains tightly organized cell populations. The goal is to produce high-resolution atlases that point to biomarkers and cellular targets for future diagnosis or therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Alzheimer’s disease and age-matched older adults who can provide consent for brain donation or participation in tissue-donation programs.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment effect or those unable or unwilling to participate in tissue donation are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal biomarkers and specific cell targets that help detect disease earlier or guide new treatments to protect or repair memory circuits.
How similar studies have performed: Related spatial transcriptomics and proteomics studies in human brain tissue have shown useful insights, but combining epigenetic, transcriptomic, and protein measures on the same tissue section at scale is a novel advance.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deng, Yanxiang — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Deng, Yanxiang
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.