Stem cell–based engineered immune cells to remove Alzheimer’s plaques
Hematopoietic Stem Cell-based CAR Macrophage for Alzheimer's Disease
This project tests a stem-cell therapy that creates engineered immune cells to help clear amyloid plaques and lower brain inflammation for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245731 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to produce chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) macrophages aimed at targeting and clearing amyloid‑beta (Aβ) plaques in the brain. Researchers will first optimize the CAR‑macrophages in lab experiments for Aβ removal and anti‑inflammatory effects, and then study safety and whether the modified cells can reach the central nervous system in animal models. In a later phase the team will test short‑ and long‑term effects on plaques, brain inflammation, and behavior in mouse models of Alzheimer’s. The approach builds on CAR cell therapy experience from cancer and infectious disease to try a long‑lasting, cell-based treatment for Alzheimer’s pathology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease—particularly those with biomarker evidence of amyloid plaques and earlier-stage cognitive symptoms—would be the most likely candidates for future clinical trials.
Not a fit: People without amyloid pathology, those with very advanced dementia, or individuals who cannot undergo stem‑cell or cell‑based therapies may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could reduce amyloid plaques and brain inflammation and potentially slow cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have performed: CAR cell therapies have shown clear success in some cancers, but applying HSC-derived CAR‑macrophages to Alzheimer’s is novel and has not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhen, Anjie — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Zhen, Anjie
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.