Using brain blood-vessel imaging and computer models to understand Alzheimer’s
Image-based cerebrovascular network snythesis(iCNS) to model Alzheimer's Disease
This project uses advanced MRI scans plus computer simulations to find small blood-flow and oxygen changes in aging and people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238548 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine high-resolution MRI of the brain’s blood vessels with detailed mathematical simulations that link tiny microcirculation changes to larger blood-flow and oxygen patterns. The team will build a computational framework to translate results from animal experiments into predictions for human brains. By running simulations across many length scales, they aim to make subtle age- and Alzheimer-related circulatory changes easier to spot on MRI. This approach focuses on identifying physiological markers of dysfunction that might help detect or track disease earlier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer’s disease, or older adults worried about memory loss who can undergo advanced MRI imaging are the most likely candidates for related studies.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment or those unable to travel to an imaging center may not directly benefit from this grant’s research, since it focuses on imaging and modeling rather than offering therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new imaging markers to detect Alzheimer-related changes earlier and help guide future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Combining MRI with computer models is an emerging approach and has shown promise, but direct translation of animal blood-flow data to human Alzheimer’s is still largely novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Linninger, Andreas a — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Linninger, Andreas a
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.