Why certain brain cells and systems fail in Alzheimer's
Study of Selective Cell and System Vulnerability in Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers will combine patient genetic and gene-expression data with lab-grown human brain cells to find which cell types and DNA regions drive Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258903 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will bring together many kinds of human data — including genome-wide association results, whole-genome and array genotypes, and bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing — and use computational tools to generate cell-type specific hypotheses. They will then test those ideas in lab-grown human neurons, microglia, and multi-cell brain organoids made from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Using CRISPR-based gene perturbations and knock-in experiments, investigators will change candidate regulatory DNA elements to see how those changes affect cell function and disease-related pathways. This combined data-driven and experimental approach aims to reveal which cells and regulatory regions are most vulnerable in Alzheimer's.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal contributors are people with Alzheimer’s disease or those at genetic risk (and their caregivers) who can provide clinical information, blood/saliva for DNA, or allow use of existing genomic data.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment changes, those without relevant genetic or clinical data to share, or patients with non-Alzheimer dementias may not directly benefit from this research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new biological targets and clearer reasons why symptoms start in particular brain cells, helping guide future treatments and diagnostics.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies combining human genetics and iPSC-derived brain cells have identified promising pathways, but translating those findings into proven therapies is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Yun — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Li, Yun
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.