U01AG076791

Cell-Type-Specific Neural Circuit Connectomes in the Mouse Models of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease - Project Summary

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of progressive dementia in older adults, but there is no cure for this debilitating condition. We hypothesize that aging and AD-related pathologies cause maladaptive changes within hippocampal formation circuits that serve as connectome hubs for large numbers of critical brain regions, ultimately leading to age- and AD-related cognitive deficits.

In response to RFA-AG-22-008, we have assembled a strong multi-investigator team across multiple institutions with complementary expertise in neural circuit mapping, next-generation AD mouse model development, single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics analysis, and mouse brain common coordinate framework / atlas development. We will leverage the exceptional resources offered by the UCI Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, the Model-AD Consortium, and the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

We propose to perform large-scale, cell-type-specific mapping of hippocampal formation circuits to generate cellular resolution connectome data that combines molecular and anatomical annotations. To capture a more accurate composite of human AD features, we will use three complementary AD mouse models including two next-generation AD mouse models. These include 1) the 5XFAD mouse model with familial mutations, 2) the hAPP-KI mouse that expresses human wild-type APP sequence from the endogenous mouse APP locus to model late-onset AD features, and 3) TREM2 R47H knock-in mice that model the increased risk of the R47H coding variant for late-onset AD.

We will comprehensively map and characterize hippocampal formation brain circuits, including CA1, the subiculum (SUB), and the entorhinal cortex (EC) that show earliest neurodegeneration across AD mouse models and in human patients. These sub-circuits serve as hubs for neural processing from many other cortical and sub-cortical brain regions.

We will use genetically modified transsynaptic neurotropic viruses developed by our team to map brain-wide anterograde and retrograde neural networks. The brain connectomes generated from viral tracing experiments will be enhanced with spatially resolved, single-cell transcriptomics-based molecular annotation using MERFISH (Multiplexed Error-Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization). We will identify molecular candidates that confer vulnerability versus disease resistance as we superimpose spatial transcriptomic data on AD-modulated circuit connectomes.

The entire dataset will be annotated using the Allen Mouse Brain Common Coordinate Framework to facilitate resource and data sharing. Our work will improve our understanding of brain circuits susceptible to aging and AD towards developing better early diagnostic tools and new treatment strategies for AD.

Irvine University Of California

TO ENCOURAGE BIOMEDICAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING DIRECTED TOWARD GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGING PROCESS AND THE DISEASES, SPECIAL PROBLEMS, AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE AS THEY AGE. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING HAS ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS TO PURSUE THESE GOALS. THE DIVISION OF AGING BIOLOGY EMPHASIZES UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF AGING. THE DIVISION OF GERIATRICS AND CLINICAL GERONTOLOGY SUPPORTS RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE ABILITIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO RESPOND TO THE DISEASES AND OTHER CLINICAL PROBLEMS OF OLDER PEOPLE. THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH SUPPORTS RESEARCH THAT WILL LEAD TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT BOTH THE PROCESS OF GROWING OLD AND THE PLACE OF OLDER PEOPLE IN SOCIETY. THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE FOSTERS RESEARCH CONCERNED WITH THE AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE RELATED SENSORY, PERCEPTUAL, AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH AGING AND HAS A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.866 - Aging Research

National Institute on Aging (NIA) [HHS - NIH]

Irvine, California 926970001 United States

Single Zip Code

The Cellular Scale Connectome in Aging and Alzheimers Disease (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-AG-22-008)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 262% from $3,012,295 to $10,898,840.