Spatial map of Alzheimer's cell types and disease patterns
Official title: Spatial analysis of regional, cell type and molecular hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and comorbid dementias.
Funded at Allen Institute · NIH-11416739 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using advanced spatial genomics to map where different brain cells and disease markers sit in Alzheimer's and related dementias, with the goal of understanding what goes wrong in the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Allen Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,494,749 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AG060909-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416739 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Donors who have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and have provided postmortem brain tissue.
✕Less likely to help
Living patients will not directly participate in this postmortem study.
What this research studies
This project will create high-resolution maps of brain tissue from people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias to see how cell types and molecular changes are organized in space. By building on prior work with the SEA-AD atlas and MERFISH technology, the team will explore how cellular neighborhoods relate to cognitive decline. The study combines detailed tissue preparation, spatial transcriptomics, and existing transcriptome data to identify which cell types and pathways are most affected. The goal is to link cellular patterns to disease progression and brain circuit disruption. Participants would contribute postmortem brain tissue to advance these insights.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A clearer picture of which brain cells and molecular changes drive dementia could guide future therapies and diagnostic approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous spatial genomics studies have revealed meaningful cell-type and regional patterns in neurodegenerative diseases, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Allen Institute
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Close, Jennie Leigh — Allen Institute
- Study coordinator: Close, Jennie Leigh
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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.