Mapping cell changes that link blood vessel problems to dementia
Single-cell multi-region transcriptional and epigenomic dissection of VCID.
Researchers will use single-cell methods on donated brain tissue to find how blood vessel disease contributes to Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10795751 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will analyze donated post-mortem brain tissue from people with vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), including sporadic cases and genetic forms like CADASIL. Scientists will profile individual cell nuclei using RNA and DNA-accessibility sequencing across multiple brain regions to build a detailed atlas of cell types and molecular changes. They will compare findings across diagnoses, brain regions, sexes, and individuals to identify genes, pathways, and cellular modules linked to small vessel disease and other cerebrovascular lesions. The team will generate data resources that other researchers can use to guide biomarker and therapeutic development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people with Alzheimer’s or related dementias who have signs of vascular brain disease or who are willing to join a brain donation program, including individuals with CADASIL or cerebral small vessel disease.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment or whose dementia has no vascular contribution (purely non-vascular causes) are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new biomarkers and treatment targets for dementia caused or worsened by blood vessel disease.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell atlases in Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders have produced useful biological leads, but applying paired snRNA-seq and snATAC-seq across multiple regions specifically for VCID is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kellis, Manolis — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Kellis, Manolis
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.