Understanding genetic risk for Alzheimer’s in African and admixed African-American communities
Official title: Characterizing the Genetic Risk for Alzheimer Disease in African and Admixed African-American Ancestries
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11595884 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how genes influence Alzheimer’s risk in people of African and admixed African-American ancestry to improve understanding and potentially guide future care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $46,335 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AG084545-03S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11595884 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals of African or admixed African-American ancestry, with or without cognitive impairment, who consent to genetic testing, biomarker collection, and long-term follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not willing to undergo genetic testing or long-term follow-up may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Researchers will collect and analyze genetic data from about 9,000 individuals of African ancestry, along with plasma biomarkers and MRI data from a subset in Nigeria. They will generate whole genome sequencing data and track cognitive follow-up over several years to see how risk factors unfold over time. The goal is to identify ancestry-specific genetic patterns and biomarkers that could improve diagnosis and future treatments for diverse populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of Alzheimer’s risk in diverse groups could lead to more accurate testing and tailored prevention strategies in the future.
How similar studies have gone: Previous diversity-focused genetic studies have revealed distinct risk patterns across ancestries, though the field continues to refine these findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Griswold, Anthony John — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Griswold, Anthony John
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Understanding genetic risk for Alzheimer’s in African and admixed African-American communities
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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.