Molecular sensors to detect Alzheimer-related chemical changes early
Official title: Ratiometric Metabolite Sensors for the Early Detection of Disease
Funded at Montana State University - Bozeman · NIH-11252808 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds glowing protein-based sensors that reveal early chemical signals linked to Alzheimer’s disease so patients and doctors might notice changes sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $362,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM157218-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252808 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with early memory problems, mild cognitive impairment, or a family history of Alzheimer’s would be the most likely candidates for future biomarker or imaging studies stemming from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Those seeking immediate new treatments, people without Alzheimer-related conditions, or patients unable to travel to the research site would not directly benefit from this basic lab research.
What this research studies
The team will create red fluorescent dyes and redesign proteins that light up when they bind to specific small molecules connected to Alzheimer’s. They will pair these sensors with receptors and use advanced live-tissue imaging to measure metabolite levels in biological samples. The lab will study bacterial HemW proteins as models to learn about RSAD1, a human protein that is increased in Alzheimer’s, to understand its structure and cofactor binding. They will also build bio-inspired catalysts that mimic enzyme active sites to improve detection of hard-to-measure chemical reactions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could enable earlier detection of Alzheimer-related biochemical changes, potentially allowing earlier diagnosis and treatment decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Fluorescent sensors and metabolite imaging have shown promise in cell and animal studies, but using ratiometric protein-based sensors specifically for Alzheimer’s markers is mostly at the preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
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Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lemon, Christopher Michael — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: Lemon, Christopher Michael
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.