Mapping cells in the brain to link Alzheimer's changes with treatment response
Multi-modal insights of spatially distributed cells with associations of diseases and drug response
This project builds new computer tools that map different cell types in brain tissue to find links between Alzheimer's changes and how people respond to treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144569 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use brain and other tissue samples plus medical records and lab data to create detailed maps showing where different cell types are and how they behave in Alzheimer's. The team will develop machine learning and deep learning methods to combine multiple data types—such as gene activity, epigenetic signals, and clinical information—for clearer, more interpretable spatial maps. Over five years they will refine these tools and apply them to Alzheimer's datasets to identify molecular patterns tied to disease progression and drug response. The effort aims to reveal individualized biomarkers that could guide earlier diagnosis and more personalized care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia who can provide tissue samples, blood, or clinical data (or who participate in linked registries) would be the best fit to contribute to this work.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's or those not able or willing to provide samples or clinical data are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify biomarkers that lead to earlier diagnosis and more personalized Alzheimer's treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Early spatial-mapping and machine-learning studies have shown promise in revealing disease-related cell patterns, but fully integrating multi-omics data for Alzheimer's remains a relatively new and developing approach.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Song, Qianqian — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Song, Qianqian
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.