Understanding why certain brain cells are more vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Mass spectrometry and multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging of metabolic and proteomic contributors to selective neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11472082 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists will study brain tissue from people with Alzheimer's to map metabolic and protein changes, aiming to find clues that explain why some neuron groups are more affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $23,400 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG078755-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11472082 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are brain tissue samples from individuals with Alzheimer’s disease pathology across a range of clinical severities and control donors.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit may be limited to those whose data or tissue is used, as this study analyzes donated brain tissue from deceased individuals.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced imaging on postmortem brain tissue to compare vulnerable prefrontal neurons with relatively spared visual cortex neurons. By combining mass spectrometry imaging with multiplexed immunofluorescence, researchers will map small molecules and proteins across brain regions and cellular environments as Alzheimer’s progresses. Data will be aligned with clinical severity, pathology, and genetic risk to reveal coordinated molecular changes. The goal is to generate a rich dataset that could guide early detection and targeted interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new biomarkers and therapeutic targets to detect and slow neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Similar imaging approaches have helped identify region-specific molecular changes in neurodegenerative diseases, supporting the potential usefulness of this method.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Varghese, Merina Thekenangarpadiyil — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Varghese, Merina Thekenangarpadiyil
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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.