Standardized testing tools to track Alzheimer’s changes using marmoset models
Multimodal Disease Characterization Core
This project builds and refines brain scan, behavior, and blood-marker methods to track early and late forms of Alzheimer's using marmoset models.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168705 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has Alzheimer's, this work aims to create reliable tests and scans that mirror how the disease develops. It follows marmoset animals from birth through disease onset using PET scans for amyloid and tau, MRI for brain structure and function, ultrasound for vascular measures, repeatable behavior and cognitive tests, and blood biomarker assays. The team will standardize these methods using the ADNI-3 imaging approach so results are comparable across studies. These standardized tools are meant to support other research projects and help translate findings toward better human diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll patients directly; its findings are most relevant to people with early-onset or late-onset Alzheimer's and those at risk who may benefit from future biomarker-based trials.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical, animal-model research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed translation of reliable imaging and blood-marker methods to earlier and more accurate detection and tracking of Alzheimer's in people.
How similar studies have performed: Human imaging and blood-biomarker programs (like ADNI) have shown promise, but using standardized longitudinal marmoset models to translate those methods is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silva, Afonso C — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Silva, Afonso C
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.