# Biomarker discovery for parkinsonian diseases in extracellular vesicles from iPSC-derived neurons

> **NIH NIH RF1** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $180,717

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonian syndromes are neurodegenerative diseases in which
symptoms include movement disorder, often autonomic dysfunction, and sometimes dementia. Due to high
symptom overlap, patients with these diseases often are misdiagnosed leading to high levels of anxiety and
depression, and to difficulty in developing therapeutic intervention. The parent grant examines candidate
biomarkers for these diseases in serum and CNS-originating extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from the
serum. However, these candidates are based on current knowledge whereas other, perhaps superior
biomarkers may not yet have been discovered. Unbiased proteomics-based biomarker discovery is a
promising approach but is practically challenging in CNS-originating EVs. Therefore, we will use EVs isolated
from the culture media of iPSC-derived neurons from patients with the same parkinsonian diseases, and
healthy controls. These studies may lead to discovery of novel biomarkers that will further aid the diagnosis,
monitoring, prognosis, and treatment of parkinsonian diseases. The supplement will support a talented
graduate student co-mentored by the PI and a proteomics expert. The student already has generated
preliminary data demonstrating that the experiments are feasible and promising. The co-mentoring, formal
classes, interaction with collaborators, and multiple professional-development opportunities will help preparing
the student for a successful and productive career as a scientific researcher.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11090272
- **Project number:** 3RF1NS126406-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** GAL BITAN
- **Activity code:** RF1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $180,717
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11090272

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11090272, Biomarker discovery for parkinsonian diseases in extracellular vesicles from iPSC-derived neurons (3RF1NS126406-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11090272. Licensed CC0.

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