Six-dimensional imaging to watch how Alzheimer-related molecules move and organize
Six-Dimensional Single-Molecule Nanoscopy for Elucidating the Dynamic Organization of Biomolecules
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11322628
This project builds ultra-high-resolution microscopes to track how Alzheimer-related molecules move and interact, aiming to reveal mechanisms that could help people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11322628 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a new kind of microscope that captures both the 3D position and 3D orientation of single molecules (called 6D imaging). They will combine adaptive hardware and AI-driven algorithms so the microscope can change how it images in real time and follow molecules at high speed. The team will use these tools to map how molecules involved in Alzheimer's, such as amyloid-related proteins, organize and interact at the nanoscale. Understanding these dynamics could point to why harmful aggregates form and suggest new targets for diagnosis or treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, or individuals willing to donate relevant biological samples (for example brain tissue or cerebrospinal fluid), would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients without Alzheimer-related pathology or those with unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this imaging-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how Alzheimer's-related proteins misbehave at the nanoscale and guide development of new diagnostics or therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Advanced single-molecule imaging has offered insights in other biological systems, but combining full 3D position and orientation with adaptive, AI-driven '6D' imaging is novel and largely untested in Alzheimer's research.
Where this research is happening
SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY — SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LEW, MATTHEW D — WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LEW, MATTHEW D
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease mechanism, Alzheimer's Disease Pathway