Mapping kinase proteins inside individual brain cells
Single cell analysis of the kinome
This project maps kinase proteins inside individual brain cells to find changes tied to aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159535 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will develop and scale a new method to measure kinase proteins and their modified forms in single cells, overcoming challenges because proteins cannot be amplified like RNA. They will combine single-cell protein measurements with RNA data to identify which brain cell types show altered kinase activity. The work will be applied to mouse brains and human brain tissue, adding spatial context to see where kinase pathways change with aging and neurodegeneration. This mapping aims to reveal cell-type specific, druggable pathways related to Alzheimer's disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease, age-related cognitive decline, or those willing to donate brain tissue or participate in related biomarker/sample studies would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Individuals seeking immediate treatment or people without neurodegenerative conditions are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific kinase pathways involved in Alzheimer's that point to new drug targets or biomarkers.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell RNA methods have been widely successful, but single-cell kinome (protein kinase activity) profiling is novel and remains early-stage with limited prior demonstrations.
Where this research is happening
Pasadena, United States
- California Institute of Technology — Pasadena, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cai, Long — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Cai, Long
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.