Which brain cells are most vulnerable in Alzheimer's
Characterize neuronal and glial cell-specific vulnerability to proteinopathies in Alzheimer's disease using multimodal single-nuclei genomic and epigenomic approaches
Researchers are using detailed molecular maps of brain cells from people with Alzheimer's to find which neurons and support cells are most affected by disease proteins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092835 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one donates brain tissue after death, researchers will make detailed molecular maps of individual brain cells from affected regions. They will use single-nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing to see which neurons and glial cells show signs of disease proteins like amyloid, tau, and TDP-43. By comparing different brain areas and types of proteinopathy, the team hopes to find specific cell networks that drive damage. These findings could point to existing drugs to repurpose and to new targets for therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (or their families) who are willing to join a brain donation program and allow post-mortem tissue use for research.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment effects or those unwilling to participate in brain donation will not directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could help identify new or repurposed drugs and targets to slow or prevent brain-cell damage in Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Prior single-cell and single-nucleus multi-omics studies have identified vulnerable cell types and suggested potential drug targets, but translating those findings into treatments is still early.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Feixiong — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Feixiong
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.