NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Mapping brain tissue around blood vessels to understand aging and Alzheimer's disease

Official title: Mapping the perivascular reticular network in health, aging, and AD

Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11463391 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Scientists will closely study a thin brain layer around blood vessels to see how it changes with aging and Alzheimer’s, using donated brain tissue and advanced imaging.

More Aging research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRush University Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$667,605
NIH project number4RF1AG083765-02
Project IDNIH-11463391 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are adults 21 years or older whose brain tissue is available through ROSMAP and related resources.

Less likely to help

This study uses donated brain tissue and does not involve live patient participation.

What this research studies

This project will use high-resolution microscopy and immunohistochemistry to map the structure of the pia mater, the tissue around brain vessels, in humans. It will examine how this perivascular network changes with age and how those changes relate to Alzheimer’s pathology and other neurological measures. The study leverages ROSMAP resources to connect physical brain structure with clinical and pathological data. Results could illuminate new ways that brain clearance systems and blood vessel health influence dementia. The work is laboratory-based but directly tied to human brain tissue and aging.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new targets for supporting brain clearance systems and resilience against dementia.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked perivascular spaces to aging and neurodegenerative disease, but detailed human pia structure mapping is still emerging.

Where this research is happening

  • Rush University Medical Center
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Mehta, Rupal I. — Rush University Medical Center
  • Study coordinator: Mehta, Rupal I.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.