Sponsor or institution
Clinical trials and research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 40 NIH-funded research projects at this institution, with $19.3 million in listed awards. Every study is explained in plain English. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov and NIH RePORTER, updated November 12, 2026.
- 40NIH research projects
NIH-funded research (40)
Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.
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ApoE and Reelin interactions in Alzheimer’s disease
A researcher is studying how the ApoE ε4 protein interacts with Reelin in the brains of people at risk for or living with Alzheimer’s disease to understand why some people develop the disease.
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Understanding how cell doors work at the tiniest scales to protect blood vessels
Researchers are studying how tiny cell connections in blood vessels are controlled by chirality using engineered platforms, with a focus on protecting vascular health in acute lung injury and similar conditions.
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Circadian Control of Immune Timing in Human Health
A scientifically focused project aims to understand how the body’s daily clock influences immune responses and metabolism at the cellular level.
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Biomimetic coatings to improve cell interfaces and deliver bioactive payloads
A research project to create self-assembled, biocompatible coatings that mimic natural cell signaling and control how surfaces interact with cells and proteins, with potential to improve diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of diseases.
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AI-enhanced 3D imaging to track drug-target engagement in breast cancer
This NIH grant funds a patient-centered imaging approach to watch how a cancer drug interacts with tumors over time using advanced AI-assisted 3D imaging.
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Respiration and energy use in Bacteroides bacteria
Scientists will study how the gut bacterium Bacteroides uses energy, including its respiratory pathways, to understand how it grows in the gut and interacts with the host.
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How cells move packages inside with tiny motor proteins
A researcher team is studying how membrane proteins are correctly shipped inside nerve cells using motor proteins, with the goal of understanding and guiding this process.
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Sugar-related damage in bone and fracture risk in type 2 diabetes
This project looks at how sugar-related molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in bone may make fractures more likely in people with type 2 diabetes.
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How APOE and brain sugars (heparan sulfate) interact in Alzheimer's
Researchers are looking at whether different versions of the APOE gene change how APOE protein binds to sugars called heparan sulfate in the brain, which may help explain Alzheimer’s risk in older adults.
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How some muscles keep working longer
This research looks at a natural muscle response called stretch activation to learn how it helps muscles keep producing force for people with muscle weakness or contractures.
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How the body's daily clock controls cell proteins after genes are read
Researchers are finding out how the body's daily clock changes how cells make and manage proteins, which may affect people with cancer or immune conditions.
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How blood vessel cells' 'handedness' affects leakiness in the lungs
This work looks at how the natural 'handedness' of blood vessel cells changes how leaky lung blood vessels can become in conditions like acute lung injury.
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Creating advanced materials that mimic biological systems for medical applications
This study is working on new materials that can help doctors better understand and treat diseases by mimicking how our cells communicate, making treatments more effective and easier to use on different surfaces.
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Understanding how gut bacteria generate energy and their impact on health
This study is looking at how certain bacteria in our gut, called Bacteroides, produce energy and how that affects both the bacteria and our overall health, using lab techniques and mouse models to learn more about their energy-making processes.
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Understanding how brain cells move important materials inside them
This research helps us understand how brain cells accurately deliver essential proteins to the right places within themselves.
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Investigating how the heart develops its shape during early embryonic stages
This study is looking at how the heart takes on its important c-shape during early development, which is key for making sure our bodies are balanced left and right, and it aims to help us understand what goes wrong when this process doesn't happen correctly, potentially leading to heart defects.
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Using AI to improve imaging of tissue molecular differences over time
This study is working on a new way to use advanced imaging and artificial intelligence to see how well cancer drugs work in real time, which could help improve treatments for breast cancer.
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Understanding how ApoE interacts with heparan sulfate in Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how a protein called ApoE and its interactions with certain sugars in the body might affect the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, helping us understand more about how these factors work together at a cellular level.
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Investigating how certain compounds affect bone fractures in people with type 2 diabetes
This study is looking at how certain substances in the body, called AGEs, might increase the risk of fragile bones in people with type 2 diabetes, even if their bone density seems fine, to help find better ways to predict fractures in diabetic patients.
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Understanding protein structures to improve treatments for infections
This study is looking at the shapes and functions of proteins from harmful germs to find new ways to create antibiotics and antiviral medicines, which could help us better treat infections caused by bacteria and viruses.
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Assessing surgical skills in real-time using advanced imaging techniques
This study is testing a new way to help surgeons improve their skills by using special technology that can watch their performance in real-time, making it easier to train without needing an expert to supervise all the time.
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Understanding how microtubule networks work during cell division
This study is looking at how tiny structures in our cells help make sure chromosomes are divided correctly during cell division, which could lead to better treatments for conditions caused by mistakes in this process.
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Understanding how muscles maintain endurance during exercise
This study is looking at how a process called Stretch Activation helps muscles keep working well during long activities, using mouse muscle fibers to learn more about how this works, which could eventually help people with muscle endurance issues.
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Using advanced AI techniques to improve CT imaging evaluation
This study is working on making AI better at reading medical images, like CT scans, so that patients can get more accurate and safer diagnoses.
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Using magnets to release proteins for spinal cord injury recovery
This study is exploring a new way to help people recover from spinal cord injuries by using special fibers that can release healing substances when exposed to a magnetic field, making treatments more personalized and effective.
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Training graduate students to commercialize Alzheimer's research
The RAFAELs program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is helping graduate students learn how to turn research about Alzheimer's and related dementias into real products and services, while also giving them hands-on experience through internships and support for starting their own businesses.
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Training future leaders in Alzheimer's disease research using data science and engineering.
This program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is designed to help students learn how to become leaders in finding solutions for Alzheimer's disease by combining science and engineering, and they’ll get hands-on experience working on real projects alongside experts at a nearby research center.
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Understanding how our body's internal clock affects gene regulation.
This study is looking at how our body's internal clock affects our health, especially our immune system, and aims to find out how changes in this clock can influence how our genes work, which could help us better understand and manage health issues related to these disruptions.
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Investigating how cell chirality affects cell connections in blood vessels
This study is looking at how the shape of cells affects their connections with each other, which is important for keeping our blood vessels working properly, especially during serious health issues like lung injury and sepsis, to find new ways to help treat these conditions.
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Investigating how tau protein spreads in Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how a protein called tau, which forms tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer's, affects thinking and memory, and aims to find new treatments that could help slow down the disease.
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Training program for students in biomolecular science and engineering
This program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is designed for students who want to learn how to combine biology, chemistry, and engineering to help advance healthcare and technology, giving them the skills they need for exciting careers in biotech and medical research.
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Investigating how the heart develops its shape during early embryonic stages
This study is looking at how the heart takes on its special c-shape during early development, which is important because problems in this process can cause serious heart defects in babies, and the researchers are using cool new tools to learn more about how this happens so they can help improve treatments for those con
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Understanding how proteins are transported within cells
This study is looking at how certain proteins move to the right spots inside cells, which is important for how cells grow and work, and it's for anyone interested in understanding the basics of how our cells communicate and function better.
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Creating a human model to understand how organs develop their left-right symmetry
This study is looking at how our bodies decide which side is left and which side is right during early development, focusing on special cells that help with this process, and it's designed to help researchers understand and prevent problems with organ placement that can lead to birth defects.
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Microneedle patches that deliver estrogen for long-term treatment
This study is testing a new skin patch made from estrogen that gently delivers the hormone right where you need it, making it easier and more comfortable than injections or pills for people who need hormone therapy.
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Understanding how certain proteins affect cell function and shape in diseases like Alzheimer's.
This study is looking at tiny proteins that help control how cells communicate and move things around, which could help us understand more about conditions like Alzheimer's disease and how they affect our brain cells.
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Developing a new method to quickly determine protein structures using NMR
This study is working on a new way to quickly figure out the shapes and details of proteins using a technique called NMR spectroscopy, which could help scientists learn more about how proteins work and lead to better treatments for patients.
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New imaging technology for studying breast cancer in animals
This study is exploring new ways to take detailed pictures of breast cancer in live animals to see how tumors behave and respond to treatments, with the goal of finding better treatment options for patients like you.
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Finding new treatments for chronic nerve pain
This study is looking for new ways to help people with chronic nerve pain by creating medications that boost the body's natural pain relief, and if you're interested, you might have a chance to join a trial to test these new treatments!
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Improving radiation therapy by reducing CT image artifacts caused by metal implants
This study is working on improving radiation therapy for cancer patients with metal implants, like screws or plates, that can mess up the CT images used to plan their treatment, so they can get more accurate care and better results.
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