How the brain's meningeal lymphatic vessels control inflammation
Regulation of Neuroinflammation by Meningeal Lymphatics
This research looks at how lymphatic vessels in the coverings of the brain influence inflammation linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171624 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, researchers are studying the thin lymphatic vessels around the brain that help drain waste and immune signals. They will use techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing and tissue and animal experiments to see how these vessels and immune cells (like dendritic cells) change during neuroinflammation, especially near the cribriform plate. The team aims to understand how antigen presentation and lymphangiogenesis (growth of lymphatic vessels) affect inflammation that relates to Alzheimer’s disease. Findings could point to new targets to change immune activity or improve brain waste clearance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia who can donate samples or enroll in related clinical/observational efforts at the research site.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer’s or those who cannot travel to the research site or provide tissue/samples are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could suggest new ways to reduce damaging brain inflammation or improve clearance of toxic proteins in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and early human studies have linked meningeal lymphatics to brain clearance and inflammation, but applying these findings to Alzheimer’s is still an early and developing area.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fabry, Zsuzsanna — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Fabry, Zsuzsanna
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.