New biomarkers for antibody‑negative autoimmune brain disorders
Seronegative Autoimmune Encephalopathies: Biomarker Discovery, Validation & Deep Phenotyping
This project looks for new antibodies and other markers to help diagnose people with autoimmune encephalitis and related brain disorders who test negative on standard antibody panels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261054 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have autoimmune encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, or related movement disorders but tested negative for known antibodies, this work aims to find the missing biomarkers behind your condition. The team at Mayo Clinic will screen patient blood and cerebrospinal fluid using faster, parallel lab techniques including advanced tissue immunofluorescence, protein identification, and mass spectrometry to spot novel IgG antibodies and other markers. They will molecularly validate promising markers and link them to clinical symptoms, brain imaging, and immune test results to define clearer patient subgroups. That deep phenotyping could point toward specific causes and help guide more targeted therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected autoimmune encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, or related autoimmune neurologic syndromes who are seronegative on standard antibody panels are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms are from confirmed non‑autoimmune causes (for example infectious, genetic, or metabolic disorders) or who already have a known antibody‑positive diagnosis may not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new diagnostic tests that finally identify antibody‑negative patients and guide more precise, targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous antibody discoveries (for example anti‑NMDA and LGI1) show this biomarker approach can identify treatable conditions, but many seronegative cases remain uncharacterized.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mckeon, Andrew — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Mckeon, Andrew
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.