New tau protein biomarkers for Alzheimer’s and progressive supranuclear palsy
Discovery of novel tau proteoforms as biomarker candidates for AD and PSP
This project looks for specific forms of the tau protein in blood that could help detect Alzheimer’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy earlier in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310815 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze blood and other biosamples using advanced lab tests, including mass spectrometry and specialized antibody assays, to find new tau proteoforms that mark disease. They will compare proteoform patterns in people with early Alzheimer’s, people with PSP, and control participants to see which markers best match clinical signs and brain pathology. The team builds on prior success finding phosphorylated tau markers (P-tau181 and P-tau217) and aims to identify additional or better markers for non‑AD tauopathies. If you participate, you may be asked to give blood and share clinical information so your results can be compared with other tests and diagnoses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people with Alzheimer’s disease, people diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, people with other neurodegenerative conditions, and healthy older adults willing to provide blood samples and medical information.
Not a fit: People without tau-related neurologic conditions or those unable/unwilling to give blood or clinical records are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate blood tests that detect Alzheimer’s and PSP earlier and help people get earlier care or join clinical trials.
How similar studies have performed: Related blood tests for phosphorylated tau (P-tau181 and P-tau217) have shown promising results for Alzheimer’s, but reliable biofluid markers for PSP remain largely lacking.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dage, Jeffrey — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Dage, Jeffrey
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.