Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded a Project Grant totaling $122,526 to The Leland Stanford Junior University on May 15, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853). This research initiative, scheduled for completion by April 30, 2028, focuses on delineating Alzheimer's Disease (AD) initiation and propagation mechanisms using novel adult human brain organoids. The project deliverables include comprehensive investigations into the roles of tau tangles and amyloid-beta plaques in AD development, with particular emphasis on non-neuronal cell types including microglia and vascular cells that contribute to disease progression.

The research outputs will be generated through three primary aims: identifying cell types responsible for tau and amyloid-beta seeding and spread (Aim 1); determining the role of microglia in amyloid-beta and tau deposition and propagation (Aim 2); and characterizing the role of the vasculature in AD spread while identifying early disease biomarkers (Aim 3). By utilizing an air-liquid interface adult human brain organoid culture system that preserves diverse neural cell types, the research will provide critical insights into the neurovascular microenvironment's contribution to AD initiation and progression, with potential implications for identifying novel therapeutic intervention strategies.