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Projects

ADRC Funded Projects

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Current Research Scholars

These awards are aimed at junior faculty within the first five years of their appointment. Exceptions are possible for mid-level faculty entering the field of dementia research.

Award Year 05/01/2024 - 04/30/2025

  • Schneeberger, Marc- "Neurovascular plasticity: a bridge between obesity and neurodegeneration"
    • Dr. Schneeberger-Pané employs state-of-the-art technologies in neuroscience combining unbiased whole mount imaging of circuits, activity, and vasculature; molecular profiling single-cell gene expression technologies, neuromodulation (optogenetics, and chemogenetics) to understand the fundamental principles in the brain governing homeostasis. He received an ADRC Scholar award to facilitate entire new studies focused on the brain vasculature as a substrate of obesity-mediated cognitive dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
  • Favuzzi, Emilia - "Microglia contributions to network hyperactivity in Alzheimer’s disease"
    • The goal of Dr. Favuzzi's project is to advance the understanding of the role of the innate immune system in regulating homeostatic functions in the brain including brain activity patterns and to elucidate mechanisms of altered states in the brain as a result of aberrant interactions between neurons and innate immune microglial cells.
  • Snell, Heather - "Shared vs distinct cerebellar mechanisms of motor and cognitive impairment"
    • Dr. Snell's research addresses a major gap in knowledge regarding the cellular and electrophysiological mechanisms controlling cognitive functions of the cerebellum. The ultimate goal of her lab is to use cutting-edge techniques to study mechanisms underlying rare cerebellar disorders to pioneer discoveries that contribute to the understanding of basic cerebellar function and increase the quality of life of patients worldwide. In addition to advancing the cellular understanding of cerebellar cognitive functions, Dr. Snell plans to utilize resources and samples from the ADRC to develop a comprehensive proteomic study using novel proximity labeling techniques in the cerebellum in collaboration with other ADRC members.
  • Nandy, Anirvan - “Toward a marmoset model of AD”
    • Dr. Nandy's project investigates the entorhinal cortex (ERC) and its vulnerability to tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Focusing on the ERC’s role in memory and spatial navigation, the study explores the molecular mechanisms, including calcium dysregulation and NMDAR-GluN2B receptor involvement. Using marmosets as a primate model, it aims to compare ERC functions with rodents and macaques to better understand AD progression and identify potential therapeutic targets.
  • Vives-Rodriguez, Ana - "Deep phenotyping of positive psychiatric symptoms and their neuropsychological profile across the spectrum of Lewy Body disease"
    • The main objective of Dr. Vives-Rodriguez's project is to characterize the progression of positive psychiatric symptoms and their association with cognitive deficits across the spectrum of Lewy body disease, including patients with PD who are cognitively unimpaired, PD-MCI, PDD, DLB, and age-matched healthy controls. The neuropsychological deep phenotyping, DNA, and bio sample collections will set the foundation for future phenotype-genotype and biomarker investigations across the Lewy body spectrum.
  • Wei, Liahnuan - "Region-Specific Perturb-seq for Genome-Wide Modifier Screens of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia-Associater Alternative Splicing"
    • Dysregulated alternative splicing has been identified as a major factor in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Loss of proteins like TDP-43 and mutations in MAPT disrupt critical neuronal functions. Dr. Wei's project aims to develop a new method called region-specific Perturb-seq, which will identify cellular regulators of these splicing issues. By focusing on specific mRNA regions, this method will improve the detection of low-abundance splicing events and allow for high-throughput analysis. The ultimate goal is to uncover new therapeutic targets to treat ADRD effectively

Award Year 5/01/2023 - 4/30/2024

  • Wanwan Xu, PhD: “Advanced Statistical Analysis on Predicting Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease”
    • This project integrates multimodal neuroimaging, genetics, and clinical data to identify preclinical biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). By combining advanced imaging techniques with genetic analysis and clinical assessments, Dr. Xu aims to detect early signs of AD before clinical symptoms appear. The goal is to improve early diagnosis and intervention strategies, enhancing our understanding of AD progression and enabling more effective treatments.
  • Joao Pereira, PhD: “Unbiased identification of phenotypes specific to Frontotemporal Dementia using induced pluripotent stem cell models”
    • Dr. Tavares Da Silva Pereira's project focuses on frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and its genetic overlap with ALS. It aims to identify early FTD phenotypes using iPSC-derived neurons with TDP43 and C9ORF72 mutations and cell painting assays combined with AI. The study will compare FTD and ALS phenotypes, explore stressor responses, and conduct a small-scale drug screen to find potential early interventions, utilizing advanced imaging and FDA-approved drug libraries. This approach aims to uncover the mechanisms behind FTD and ALS and identify druggable targets for early intervention.
  • Gita Pathak, PhD: “Hippocampus and amygdala transcriptomic signatures of recent depression episode in Alzheimer’s disease patients”
    • This project investigates the molecular changes in the hippocampus and amygdala of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients with recent depression episodes. Dr. Pathak aims to identify differential gene expression in these brain regions to understand the comorbidity of depression and AD. By analyzing 70 samples from 35 donors, the study will identify key molecular pathways and potential therapeutic targets. Techniques include RNA sequencing, differential gene expression analysis, and cross-tissue correlation to uncover insights into the transcriptomic regulation in AD and depression.
  • Cameron Gettel, MD, MHS: “An examination of caregiver characteristics of older adults with and without cognitive impairment in the emergency department”
    • Persons living with dementia (PLWD) visit emergency departments (ED) more frequently than those without cognitive impairments. The ED is a crucial but underutilized setting for engaging PLWD and their caregivers. Dr. Gettel's project aims to examine the assistance provided by caregivers to PLWD and those with undiagnosed cognitive impairments, to inform ED-based best practices and improve early detection of cognitive issues.
  • Yeongho Kim, PhD: “Sphingomyelin-to-y-secretase molecular interaction in Alzheimer’s disease”
    • This project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind Amyloid Precursor Protein processing by γ-secretase and Aβ production in Alzheimer’s disease. Utilizing techniques like lipid photoaffinity crosslinking, click chemistry, and LC-MS/MS lipidomic analysis, Dr. Kim's study will explore lipid-protein interactions and membrane homeostasis. Supported by experts in mass spectrometry, γ-secretase functions, and neurodegenerative disease models, this research seeks to provide new insights into Alzheimer’s disease progression.

Past Research Scholars

Award Year 5/01/2022 - 4/30/2023

  • Yifei Cai, PhD: "Molecular mechansms of axonal pathology in Alzheimer's disease human neurons"
  • Sathish Ramakrishnan, PhD: "Mechanism of exocytosis protein in Alzheimer's disease"
  • Dibyadeep Datta: "Interrogating the molecular mechanisms mediating the emergence of biomarker pT217-tau in AD"

Award Year 5/01/2021 - 4/30/2022

  • Eyiyemisi Damisah, MD: "Investigating statistical learning in the Dementias"
  • Hongying Shen, PhD: "Expanding Neurometabolic Biochemistry Underlying Alzheimer's disease"
  • Takuya Toyonaga, MD, PhD: "Whole brain in vivo characterization of synaptic density in Alzheimer's disease model rat with different rearing environments"
  • Le Zhang, PhD: "Sex-Specific Single Cell Expression Profiles and Genetic Risk in Alzheimer's disease"
  • Yize Zhao, PhD: "Connectome coupling and genetic underpinning in the Supernormal"

Award Year 6/15/2020 - 4/30/2021

Current Pilot Projects

These awards are aimed at investigators at the associate research scientist/instructor level, although exceptions are possible for early-stage assistant professors.
Award Year 5/01/2022 - 4/30/2023
  • Marcello DiStasio, MD, PhD: "Uncovering Proinflammatory Signatures in Alzheimer's Disease Using Spatial Transcriptomics"
  • Juan Young, MD: "Investigating a CD8+ T cell associated aging gene signature in Alzheimer's disease"

Award Year 5/01/2021 - 4/30/2022

  • Daniel Jane-Wit, MD, PhD, RPVI: "ZFYVE21 and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease Related Dementias"
  • Dibyadeep Datta: "Investigating the role of pT217-tau in the pathogenesis of AD and relevance for biomarker development"

Past Pilot Projects

Previously awarded pilot projects funded by a NIA ADRC grant.

Award Year 4/1/2015 - 3/31/2016

  • Janghoo Lim, PhD: "The role of Neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease with focus on nemo-Like Kinase"
  • Ming-Kai Chen, MD, PhD: "Brain PET Imaging of Synaptic Density in Alzheimer's disease"

Award Year 4/1/2016 - 3/31/2017

  • Ming-Kai Chen, MD, PhD: "Brain PET Imaging of Synaptic Density in Alzheimer's disease"
  • Becky Carlyle, PhD: "Profiling 3D Amyloid Patterns"

Award Year 4/1/2017 - 3/31/2018

Award Year 4/1/2018 - 3/31/2019

  • Carla Rothlin, PhD: "Mechanisms of reactive astrogliosis - a critical feature in Alzheimer's disease"
  • Sreeganga Chandra, PhD: "Testing Synapse Protection Strategies for Alzheimer's disease"
  • Anita Huttner, MD: "Modeling Sporadic Alzheimer's disease with Human IPSC-Derived Cerebral Organoids"

Award Year 4/1/2019 - 3/31/2020

  • Kurt Zilm, PhD: "Structural characterization by NMR of amyloid-beta oligomers bounds in hydrogel phase to prion protein"
  • Le Zhang, PhD: "Single nucleus and single-cell profiling of human brain and CSF in Alzheimer's disease"

Award Year 6/15/2020 - 4/30/2021

Past Research Projects

These three projects (Lysosomes, Post-Synaptic Densities and GABAergic Networks) were funded by the previous P50 grant cycle. The projects worked together to achieve the goal of translating laboratory discoveries into novel effective clinical therapies. Their unifying theme is a focus on the cell biology of specific neurons, and its disruption in Alzheimer's disease triggered by abnormal forms of Amyloid-β peptide.

Development Projects

These development projects are aimed to provide seed money for faculty investigators to explore the feasibility of Alzheimer's disease studies and to obtain sufficient preliminary data to seek support through other funding mechanisms. They are specifically designed to foster the work of young investigators (including both assistant professors and associate research scientists) beginning a career in Alzheimer's research.

Award Year 5/1/23 - 4/30/24

  • Insoo Kang: “Investigating comprehensive genomic profile and heterogeneity of viral antigen-specific T cells in patients with Alzheimer's disease using single cell RNA sequencing”
  • Jianbing Zhou: “Ribonucleoprotein-mediated genome editing therapy for Alzheimer's Disease”

Award Year 5/1/2022 - 4/30/2023

  • Caroline Fredericks, MD: "Predictive modeling of genetic Alzheimer's risk and memory performance in healthy older adults"
  • Chao Zheng, PhD: "Longitudinal ROCK2-PET imaging study in the TgF344-AD transgenic rat model of AD"

Award Year 5/01/2021 - 4/30/2022

Award Year 6/15/2020 - 4/30/2021