Studying the Role of a Novel Innate Immunity Pathway in Inducing Brain Inflammation and Damage in Alzheimer’s Disease

Principal Investigator
Sadaf Amin, PhD
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
New York, NY, USA
About the Research Project
Program
Award Type
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Award Amount
$200,000
Active Dates
October 01, 2020 - December 30, 2023
Grant ID
A20201312F
Mentor(s)
Li Gan, PhD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Goals
There is a high level of neuro-inflammation in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. These inflammatory factors are secreted by stressed cells and lead to deterioration of other cell types (e.g. neurons) present in the brain. This proposal intends to study the molecular pathways that govern this inflammatory response inside the brain and target them to limit the neuronal damage that leads to cognitive deficits and memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.
Summary
This research aims to study the molecular pathways that govern senescence and inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cellular senescence is a state of growth arrest in response to stress. Cells in the body can become senescent in aging and many disease conditions. These cells induce chronic inflammation which damages their surrounding tissue. There is evidence that senescent cells increase in AD brains. Importantly, treatment of AD mouse models with drugs that selectively kill senescent cells has been shown to ameliorate the neurological and cognitive deficits in these mice. These promising preliminary results underline the need to study the mechanisms of senescence and inflammation in human post-mortem AD brains and mouse models. My research will focus on specific inflammatory pathways that are activated during senescence and cause tissue damage. I hope that my work will lead to a better understanding of the biology of AD and identify novel therapeutic targets to limit brain cell damage in humans suffering from AD.
Grants
Related Grants
Alzheimer's Disease Research
Regulatory Mechanisms Underlying Endosomal Targeting of SORL1
Active Dates
January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2026
Principal Investigator
Olav Andersen, PhD
Regulatory Mechanisms Underlying Endosomal Targeting of SORL1
Active Dates
January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2026

Principal Investigator
Olav Andersen, PhD
Alzheimer's Disease Research
The Role of DYRK1A in Altered Microglia Biology in a Cellular Model of Alzheimer’s Disease in Down Syndrome
Active Dates
January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2027
Principal Investigator
Frances Wiseman, PhD
The Role of DYRK1A in Altered Microglia Biology in a Cellular Model of Alzheimer’s Disease in Down Syndrome
Active Dates
January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2027

Principal Investigator
Frances Wiseman, PhD
Alzheimer's Disease Research
Synergistic Effects of Biological Sex and Sleep Loss in an AD Mouse Model
Active Dates
January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2026
Principal Investigator
Mallar Chakravarty, PhD
Synergistic Effects of Biological Sex and Sleep Loss in an AD Mouse Model
Active Dates
January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2026
Principal Investigator
Mallar Chakravarty, PhD