Milestone 9.F
Initiate studies to develop minimally invasive biomarkers for detection of cerebral amyloidosis, AD and AD-related dementias pathophysiology.
Success Criteria
Development and testing of at least 3 biomarkers that utilize biofluids or other minimally invasive imaging, electrophysiological recording, or other methodologies to assess the burden of AD and ADRD pathophysiology that could be used in community based and epidemiological studies of AD and related dementias.
Summary of Key Accomplishments
NIA supports a growing portfolio of projects focused on discovering new diagnostic and prognostic fluid biomarkers for AD/ADRD. Out of 57 projects, 23 are from small biotech companies supported by NIA’s small business grants program. A wealth of new technologies is being evaluated, including a variety of molecular signatures collected in blood and ocular imaging technologies.
Support from NIA was instrumental for the development of a robust test for measuring the ratio of two forms of amyloid beta in the blood – a key component of the PrecivityAD blood test developed by the biotech C2N.
In addition to research focused on discovering new fluid biomarkers, NIA-funded large cohort studies are using the most advanced plasma biomarkers (plasma amyloid beta, tau and NfL markers) to better understand the onset and progression of the disease across diverse populations including special populations cohorts and cohorts with rare forms of the disease. NIA supports efforts focused on standardization and validation of peripheral fluid biomarkers through its participation in the FNIH Biomarker Consortium and by including these technologies across the NIA-supported AD Research Centers network.
This information is current as of March 2022.
- Research Implementation Area
- Biomarkers
- Timeline
- 2015–2023
- Status
- Achieved
Accomplishments/Implementation Activities
Funding Initiatives
- PAR-15-359: Novel Approaches to Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease & Predicting Progression (R01)
- PAR-17-054: Leveraging Existing Cohort Studies to Clarify Risk and Protective Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (R01)
- RFA-AG-15-010: Interdisciplinary Research to Understand the Vascular Contributions to Alzheimer's Disease (R01)
- RFA-AG-15-011: Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease in Down Syndrome (R01)
- RFA-AG-18-013: Continuation of the AMP AD Target Discovery and Preclinical Validation Consortium
- NOT-AG-18-019: Notice to Extend the Expiration Date for PAR-15-359 (re-issue of PAR-15-359)
Research Programs and Resources
- Alzheimer’s Biomarkers Consortium – Down Syndrome (ABC-DS)
- Molecular Mechanisms of the Vascular Etiology of Alzheimer's Disease (M²OVE-AD) Consortium
- Blood test method may predict Alzheimer’s protein deposits in brain