# Biospecimens

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $556,905

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY—BIOSPECIMENS CORE (Core G)
Fluid biomarkers hold great promise for improving early and accurate diagnosis, symptom monitoring,
prognostication, and measuring treatment effects for frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Over the past 19 years,
the UCSF PPG Biospecimens sub-core (as part of the Neuropathology Core) has successfully collected, banked,
and shared human biofluid specimens from over 2,000 research participants. In parallel, we have leveraged the
strength of the UCSF neurodegenerative disease research community and multiple public-private collaborations
to build infrastructure in fibroblast banking to enable induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) preparation. This newly
proposed Biospecimens Core will synergize these resources to support this PPG's mission of improving the early
and accurate diagnosis and tracking the progression of FTD. The Biospecimens Core will be led by Dr. Adam
Boxer, a leader in neurodegenerative fluid biomarker development. He also co-directs the ALLFTD Consortium
(U19AG063911) including its Biofluids Core. Serving as Co-Leader will be Dr. Aimee Kao, a neurologist-
physician-scientist whose research focuses on the basic pathophysiological mechanisms underlying FTD,
Alzheimer's Disease, and related disorders. She brings experience and expertise in fibroblast and iPSC culture
and banking, and she serves as Lead of the UCSF ADRC Biomarker Core. We propose three aims. In Aim 1,
this Biospecimens Core will work with the Data Management and Biostatistics Core to support the Clinical Core
with blood, CSF, and epithelial fibroblast collection from research participants. In Aim 2, the Biospecimens Core
will provide measures of established fluid biomarkers such as plasma and/or CSF Aβ1-42, Aβ1-40, total tau, P-
tau217, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a basis for Amyloid [A], Tau [T], Neurodegeneration [N]
classification of all participants. Aim 3 will support the PPG projects and work towards discovery and validation
of novel biomarkers through establishment of proteomic and lipidomic datasets and collection of FTD epithelial
fibroblasts, thus enabling iPSC line generation. Information will be iteratively shared with the Neuropathology
Core to drive scientific insights into disease pathophysiology. This Biospecimens Core will also collaborate with
the Imaging Core on development of novel neuroimaging measures in conjunction with validation of new plasma
diagnostic biomarkers. By leveraging established agreements with the National Centralized Repository for
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD), this Biospecimens Core will continue to bank and share
a large longitudinal collection of exquisitely well-characterized patient and control biospecimens, positioning this
core to support research projects locally, nationally, and internationally.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10556178
- **Project number:** 2P01AG019724-21A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** ADAM L. BOXER
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $556,905
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2002-09-01 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10556178

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10556178, Biospecimens (2P01AG019724-21A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10556178. Licensed CC0.

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