# Using Polylox DNA barcodes to lineage trace adult neural stem cells in Alzheimers Disease

> **NIH NIH R36** · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · 2022 · $73,931

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
New neurons are produced from dedicated neural stem cells throughout the lifespan of humans and
animals. The level of adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus declines with age and is drastically affected
by neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is
implicated in cognitive function, mood, and stress response and its augmentation is considered as a
potential strategy for mitigating the effects of AD. Accurate lineage tracing could help in understanding
how aging and AD alter the division dynamics of adult neural stem cells. However, current tools used to
lineage trace the division of adult neural stem cells, and their subsequent maturation in neurons, are
limited in their scope. This has contributed to conflicting models of adult neurogenesis, hindering
progress in understanding the true potential of adult neurogenesis as a means of reducing the effects of
AD. Our proposal aims to move the field forward by using a new DNA/RNA barcoding approach to study
clonality and lineage of adult neural stem cells in a mouse AD model. This research plan will match single-
cell endogenous barcoding and transcriptional profiling of the hippocampal stem cells and their progeny.
This will uncover the life cycle of neural stem cells in the normal aging and AD-affected brain. A particular
emphasis of the project is the possibility of selective expansion or deletion of subclasses of stem cells
during AD progression, thereby potentially defining the properties of new hippocampal neurons born
during the development of AD. Our findings could be later used to design new therapeutic strategies to
combat the loss of neurons that occurs in AD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10510598
- **Project number:** 1R36AG078744-01
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- **Principal Investigator:** Sheed Itaman
- **Activity code:** R36 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $73,931
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10510598

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10510598, Using Polylox DNA barcodes to lineage trace adult neural stem cells in Alzheimers Disease (1R36AG078744-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10510598. Licensed CC0.

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