# A Systems Approach to Targeting Innate Immunity in AD

> **NIH NIH U01** · MAYO CLINIC  JACKSONVILLE · 2020 · $3,233,653

## Abstract

Our funded U01 project in the AMP-AD consortium had the overarching aim of identifying therapeutic targets
within innate immunity pathways. In the previous funding period, we made significant progress and met all
milestones of our U01. We have nominated multiple targets in the immune system, and these targets are at
various stages of validation. Nevertheless, key gaps in our understanding impede transformation of the collective
AMP-AD knowledge to validated therapeutic targets. Despite identification of numerous perturbed transcriptional
networks, some enriched for Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk genes, key tractable targets in these networks are
not unequivocally identified and validated. Further, whether the observed transcriptional changes are a simple
consequence of disease or actually, play a role in the pathologic cascade has, typically, not been determined.
Finally, the direction of molecular changes that is beneficial vs. detrimental has, in most cases of nominated
targets, not been established. To overcome these gaps in knowledge, we will i) leverage unique aspects of our
existing data and tools along with data and analyses generated by the larger AMP-AD consortia, ii) generate
complementary new data, and iii) apply innovative analytic approaches. Notably, our ability to perform
comparative analysis of control (no pathology), PathAg, (Pathologic Aging, amyloid+), AD (tau+, amyloid+) and
PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy, tau+) enables a framework to identify therapeutic targets that play a role
in the transition to different disease stages of AD. Further, comparisons between two brain regions
(TCX=affected and CER=largely spared in AD) and between AD and PSP can help distinguish whether the
molecular changes identified are likely a cause or consequence of pathology. In this renewal application, we
propose to: i) refine and genetically validate therapeutic targets ii) identify molecular mechanisms and targets
that mediate disease transition from control to PathAg to AD iii) define the drug target mechanism(s) iv) evaluate
select prioritized targets in relevant models, v) continue the collaboration with all AMP-AD partners to promote
consortium wide-target validation and vi) share our data openly with the larger scientific community. These
studies will include the final phase of modeling studies for more than 20 immune targets identified in the original
grant cycle with a goal of making firm go, no-go, decisions on select targets. These studies will enable us to i)
provide biologic insight into the mechanism of action of the proposed targets and ii) inform on the direction of
change needed for therapeutic benefit. Identification of key targets that drive the transition from control to
amyloid positivity, and then to tau pathology and neurodegeneration will enable us to propose alignments of
future clinical testing of therapeutics that manipulate these targets in appropriate disease stages-increasing the
likelihood to achieve clinical effic...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246077
- **Project number:** 7U01AG046139-08
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC  JACKSONVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** NILUFER ERTEKIN-TANER
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $3,233,653
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246077

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246077, A Systems Approach to Targeting Innate Immunity in AD (7U01AG046139-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246077. Licensed CC0.

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