Using engineered immune cells to reduce inflammation and tackle Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Human iPSC-Derived Chimeric Antigen Receptor Macrophages to Modulate Inflammation and Combat Tau-Induced Pathology
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11030411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for Alzheimer's and related dementias that uses specially designed immune cells to help reduce inflammation in the brain, which could lead to better symptoms and a higher quality of life for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $734,778 |
| NIH project number | 1R61AG090358-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11030411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who are experiencing chronic inflammation and tau pathology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-neurodegenerative conditions or those without Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of immune cell therapy to combat Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. By engineering macrophages from human stem cells, the study aims to create cells that can specifically target and reduce inflammation associated with tau pathology in the brain. The approach involves using chimeric antigen receptors to enhance the macrophages' ability to identify and eliminate harmful proteins. Patients may benefit from a novel treatment that could improve their symptoms and overall quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a groundbreaking treatment for Alzheimer's disease that significantly alleviates symptoms and slows disease progression.
How similar studies have gone: While similar immune cell therapies have shown promise in oncology, this specific application for Alzheimer's disease is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sachs, Jonathan N — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Sachs, Jonathan N
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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.