# Fluid biomarkers in primary tauopathies

> **NIH NIH R21** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $194,375

## Abstract

Project summary
Over the past several years, blood-based biomarkers that accurately detect Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) brain
pathology have been developed. However, there are no specific fluid or imaging biomarkers for primary
tauopathies including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and
frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). We have recently identified specific species of tau in cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) that can identify subsets of primary tauopathies from healthy control groups and other tauopathies
with moderate specificity and sensitivity. In this study, we propose to optimize mass spectrometry methods to
better distinguish primary tauopathies in CSF. Based on the new methods, we will translate these primary
tauopathy biomarkers to blood and test if they correlate with the biomarker measures in paired CSF. This study
will provide first measures of primary tauopathies in blood and prepare for large cohort studies looking into
primary tauopathy CSF and blood to distinguish subgroups of primary tauopathies or tauopathies from other
neurological or psychiatric diseases. If blood biomarkers are developed, it will likely be widely used and could
facilitate primary tauopathy research and diagnoses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10890112
- **Project number:** 5R21AG081961-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Chihiro Sato
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $194,375
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10890112

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10890112, Fluid biomarkers in primary tauopathies (5R21AG081961-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10890112. Licensed CC0.

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