How calcium deposits affect Alzheimer's and age-related macular degeneration
Molecular mechanisms of calcification: roles and opportunities in diseases of aging
This program looks at how tiny calcium deposits form in the brain and eye in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or age-related macular degeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11390448 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This program brings together four research projects plus administrative and technical cores to study why proteins, fats, and mineralized calcium build up in the aging brain and eye. The team will analyze human tissue and fluid samples, use 3D cell cultures and animal models, and apply advanced imaging and chemical tests to pinpoint the molecules and pathways involved. Researchers are also developing new sensors that could detect these tiny calcifications earlier. If you take part, you might be asked to provide tissue, fluid, or clinical data, but most work is lab-based and aimed at improving future diagnostics and treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults with diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease or age-related macular degeneration, or people willing to donate relevant tissue or biological samples, would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: People without signs of AMD or AD or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct short-term benefit from this basic research program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable earlier detection of harmful calcifications and eventually lead to new ways to slow or prevent vision loss and dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have identified calcium deposits in AMD and AD and produced useful lab models, but translating these findings into reliable diagnostics or therapies remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marassi, Francesca M — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Marassi, Francesca M
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.