# Finding combinatorial drug repositioning therapy for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · 2021 · $771,560

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
AD/ADRD are highly complex diseases characterized by distinct molecular pathways and neuropathological
phenotypes. Unfortunately, the treatment remains at best modestly effective and no new drugs have been
approved since 2003. Combinatorial drug therapy for AD/ADRD treatment has not been intensively studied but
it is highly promising. We hypothesize that finding repositioned drug combinations through innovative
exploration of big data may uncover effective AD/ADRD treatments, with implicit advantages in overcoming
drug resistance and targeting multiple biomarkers. We will combine big biomedical data from complementary
sources, novel and advanced informatics models, clinical domain expertise, as well as biology knowledge and
validation into a coherent framework to tackle AD/ADRD with potential combinatorial drug therapies. In an
exponentially larger and more challenging space of combinatorial drug therapy, opportunities are also
exponentially larger when compared with traditional single-drug models but many computational challenges
need to be carefully handled. We will develop multiple computational models under two philosophical
umbrellas, with focuses on quantifiable screening and biological understanding. Our findings will be validated
with biological experiments from cell to mouse. If successful, we will significantly advance AD/ADRD research
and benefit patients with safe and effective treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10133501
- **Project number:** 5R01AG066749-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Xiaoqian Jiang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $771,560
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10133501

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10133501, Finding combinatorial drug repositioning therapy for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (5R01AG066749-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10133501. Licensed CC0.

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