Mapping tiny cellular packages in lab-grown mini-brains for Parkinson's
Systematic Study of Extracellular Vesicles and their Integrative Analysis with Parkinson's Organoids MAP
Researchers are using lab-grown mini-brains and the tiny particles cells release to understand early Parkinson's changes and guide future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11317208 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists grow 3-D "mini-brains" from human cells and collect extracellular vesicles, the tiny packages cells send out. They read the RNAs and other signals inside those packages and compare them with signals from real Parkinson's brain tissue and animal models. Advanced computational analysis links these signals to early synapse problems that appear before nerve cells die. The team aims to build an integrated map that highlights early disease changes and points to possible new treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with Parkinson's or those with known genetic risk who can donate cells, blood, or post-mortem tissue, as well as healthy volunteers for comparison.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate therapeutic benefit or enrollment in a treatment trial are unlikely to receive direct benefit because this is lab-based, preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early biomarkers and new targets to detect Parkinson's sooner and help develop better therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work supports links between synaptic disruption and noncoding RNAs in Parkinson's, but combining extracellular vesicle profiling with human organoids and large-scale RNA mapping is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Luke P. — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lee, Luke P.
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.