# Biomarker discovery of Alzheimer's disease trajectory using NMR platform

> **NIH NIH R01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $10,805

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 In response to the NOT-GM-21-028, we are submitting a supplement to our parent R01
5R01GM120033-05 to fund a summer undergraduate student from Rice University who has been accepted to
Baylor College of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Training (SMART) program.
 Within our R01 award, we are developing two powerful new automated algorithms to capture
biomarkers of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Both of these tools capitalize on recent
developments in machine learning; one of them, NMRQuant, has already been validated on simulated and
phantom nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data and is ready to be applied to biological samples. We
propose to examine the plasma samples obtained from the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium
(TARCC), which prospectively collects demographic, environmental, neuropsychosocial, and genetic data
along with the biofluid samples, in consecutive 1-year follow-up analyses that track various health outcomes.
The undergraduate student will spend 10 weeks in the lab as part of SMART program and will examine 30 AD
plasma samples for biomarkers of disease using NMR and our new algorithms. Baylor College of Medicine
approved in-lab training of SMART students. Thus, within the lab, the student will learn necessary procedures
when dealing with human samples, new technologies such as NMR, and computational analyses. Through the
SMART program, the student will expand her academic knowledge and career planning via structured daily
seminars. She will also present her progress and data to the lab and to the SMART program. This work will
thus bring transformative knowledge to her future career of a physician/scientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10394015
- **Project number:** 3R01GM120033-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Zhandong Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $10,805
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10394015

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10394015, Biomarker discovery of Alzheimer's disease trajectory using NMR platform (3R01GM120033-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10394015. Licensed CC0.

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