Protein sugar patterns in the brain and blood of people with Alzheimer's
Brain and blood N-glycome profiling in Alzheimer's disease
This project looks at sugar decorations on proteins in blood and brain to help find early markers and clues for people with or at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11326852 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will map the full set of N-linked sugar structures (N-glycans) on proteins in blood samples and brain tissue from large groups of people. They will compare patterns from people with Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment, and cognitively normal older adults, and relate those patterns to cognitive decline and established Alzheimer pathology. The team will also examine how glycan changes connect to key Alzheimer proteins like APP, tau, and BACE1 and to brain inflammation. Findings aim to point to new biomarker leads and biological pathways that could guide future diagnostics or treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with Alzheimer's disease, those with mild cognitive impairment, and older adults without dementia who can provide blood samples or are part of brain-donor cohorts.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment effects should not expect direct clinical benefit from participation, since this research focuses on biomarkers and mechanisms rather than testing therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify blood-based markers that help detect Alzheimer's earlier and reveal biological targets for new therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary findings, including the investigators' earlier work, suggest blood N-glycan patterns can predict Alzheimer's onset and decline, but large-scale, comprehensive profiling remains novel.
Where this research is happening
Tampa, United States
- University of South Florida — Tampa, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Jinying — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Jinying
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.