Long noncoding RNAs to guide treatments and blood tests for Alzheimer's and related dementias
Long Non-coding RNAs as Therapeutic Targets and Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Researchers are looking at special RNA molecules called long noncoding RNAs to help find new treatments and blood tests for people with Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171413 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will map which long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are active in specific brain cell types that are vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementias and compare those patterns to healthy brains. The team will also search for these lncRNAs in blood or other liquid biopsies to see if disease-related RNAs are released into circulation. Laboratory work will include molecular profiling of human brain tissue, cell-type analyses, and tests of how these RNAs change with disease. The overall aim is to find RNAs that could be measured in a blood test or targeted by future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, including early-stage Alzheimer's or frontotemporal dementia, who can provide blood samples (and brain tissue donations if applicable).
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's or related dementias and those hoping for an immediate new treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this discovery-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to blood tests for earlier diagnosis and new RNA-targeted therapies for Alzheimer's and related dementias.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked lncRNAs to brain disease and found some in blood, but turning these findings into reliable diagnostics or treatments is still experimental and early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delalle, Ivana — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Delalle, Ivana
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.