Grant: Doctoral Research Award - PA: Sex and gender science for health equity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative brain condition that causes cognitive decline and dementia. The most popular theory for the cause of AD suggests that the accumulation of toxic proteins called "amyloid-beta fragments" in the brain sets off a cascade of events that leads to the disease. However, many questions remain about the details of these events, and about the role that non-genetic risk factors play in them. Recently, a growing number of studies suggest that dysfunctional blood vessels may play a key role in disease onset and progression, but more research is needed to confirm this theory. This proposal aims to use single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology to study gene expression in different models of AD, including the Tg2576 mouse model and neurovascular organoid models ("mini-brains-in-a-dish") of AD. By identifying genes associated with the neurovascular theory of AD, this research aims to reveal new mechanisms for the disease and identify potential drug targets. This study will use a range of genetic tools to provide a comprehensive understanding of the precise mechanisms associated with AD at a molecular and cellular level. Overall, this work has the potential to provide valuable insights into AD progression and may lead to the development of new treatments for the disease.