# Molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease neuropathological endophenotypes

> **NIH NIH K25** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $130,016

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Shubhabrata Mukherjee is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of
Washington. He seeks a mentored career development award to obtain critical knowledge skills in Alzheimer's
disease (AD) related biology of aging focusing particularly on sophisticated genetic models to analyze
neuropathological outcomes and necessary research experience for an independent career as a
multidisciplinary researcher.
The training proposal details a five-year plan of formal and informal instruction in molecular and physiological
aspect of AD. The plan includes mentored research by an established team of experts, coursework, seminars,
and guided study in biology and neuropathology of aging and statistical genetics. The plan also includes
experience in functional validation and exploration of molecular mechanisms of genes in animal models as well
as collaborations in richly educational working groups. Dr. Mukherjee will have the opportunity to interact with
colleagues at national meetings. Dr. Mukherjee's short-term career goals include 1) acquire a strong
foundation of knowledge in the area of experimental aging as applied to neurodegenerative disorders, 2)
receive training in the analysis and interpretation of experimental aging research data, 3) learn and apply novel
ways of integrating genetic data followed by validation techniques in model organisms, 4) improve manuscript
and grant writing skills, and 5) continue training in the responsible conduct of research. His long-term career
goals are to be an independent multidisciplinary researcher with a diverse toolbox including sophisticated
statistical methodologies and experimental approaches to understand and uncover pathophysiology of age-
related neurodegenerative diseases.
Genetic studies of AD have identified around 20 susceptibility loci in the past several years. The translation of
this success to viable therapies and biomarker discovery depends on the identification and characterization of
the actual disease genes and functional variants at these susceptibility loci. To overcome these major hurdles
in the post-genome wide association studies era requires a multitude of alternative approaches including the
use of neuropathological endophenotypes, which are biologically-relevant, and heritable phenotypes.
The specific aims of the research proposed are to implement sophisticated gene-network analysis integrating
prior biological knowledge properly to evaluate data from AD-related neuropathological endophenotypes and
gain new insights. The most promising neuropathology-associated loci will be validated with animal models.
Lastly, molecular mechanisms of these validated genes will be explored in C. elegans longevity models.
Completion of the proposed aims will set the stage for subsequent independent funding to use network
analysis approaches to further the scientific understanding of genetic and endophenotype data of AD, laying
the groundwork for a new generation of...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9936115
- **Project number:** 5K25AG055620-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Shubhabrata Mukherjee
- **Activity code:** K25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $130,016
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-15 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9936115

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9936115, Molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease neuropathological endophenotypes (5K25AG055620-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9936115. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*