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Project information
Transformative stem cell-based model of Alzheimer’s disease and advanced analytics to study the role of membrane lipids in the pathogenesis

Project Identification
MUNI/G/1131/2017
Project Period
3/2018 - 12/2020
Investor / Pogramme / Project type
Masaryk University
  • Grant Agency of Masaryk University
  • INTERDISCIPLINARY - Interdisciplinary research projects
MU Faculty or unit
Faculty of Science
Other MU Faculty/Unit
Faculty of Medicine

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia (60-80% of cases) in elderly population worldwide. The current body of research supports the concept that protein aggregation initiates the onset of Alzheimer's disease. However, in spite of the large number of available literature and studies, a mechanism of pathogenesis and potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease remains elusive. Here we apply modern and highly specific analytical techniques to relevant in vitro models able to comprehensively capture all important aspects of the human neuropathology. Implementation of such models to study Alzheimer's disease will allow for proper hypothesis testing and will drive important findings. For that reason, general objective of proposed interdisciplinary and interfaculty project is to develop and apply state-of-the-art analytical methodology to a newly introduced cell biology model to study and potentially elucidate hypothetical mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. Specifically, we aim to develop modern analytical tools suitable to determine levels of gangliosides and proteins primarily involved in aggregation. Simultaneously, we will establish an adequate in vitro model based on cerebral organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells, suitable to test hypothetical mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Subsequently, we will apply analytical methodology to the conceptual model exploring the influence of gangliosides on the development of Alzheimer's disease pathology. Finally, we also aim to challenge the in vitro cellular model with an environmental perturbation (e.g. microorganisms) and capture the resulting pathological impacts in relation to Alzheimer’s disease. We believe that proposed combination of analytical technology with disease modeling using stem cells provides a unique opportunity to bring an urgently needed new perspective the field of Alzheimer’s disease research.

Publications

Total number of publications: 10

2024

2023

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2020

2018

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