Rice University is reinforcing its support for faculty whose work is helping advance research in dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and related neurological disorders through an internal funding initiative designed to help faculty launch pilot studies, strengthen collaborations and prepare competitive external funding proposals for brain-focused research.
The Rice Office of Research and the Amyloid Mechanism and Disease Center will fund 12 projects through the newly-launched seed grant mechanism. The initiative is supported by the Rice Brain Institute and the Educational and Research Initiative for Collaborative Health (ENRICH) office at Rice. The selected projects are:
Fall Fingerprint: Personalizing Predictive Gait Modeling Across Clinical Pathways of Dementia
- Keya Ghonasgi, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rice
This project addresses the high risk of falls among people with different dementia subtypes by moving beyond brief clinical assessments to capture continuous, real-world movement. It develops a personalized, home-based fall-prevention approach using textile-integrated wearable sensors. By analyzing detailed gait data from individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies, the study builds subtype-specific models to detect early warning signs of falls. The work establishes gait as a digital biomarker and lays the foundation for future wearable systems that can autonomously prevent falls in diverse aging populations.
From Barriers to Breakthroughs: A Community-Engaged Approach to Early Alzheimer's Detection
- Luz Garcini, Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences, Rice
- Hannah Ballard, Associate Director of Community and Public Health, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice
This project examines barriers and facilitators to early detection of Alzheimer’s disease in diverse, medically underserved urban communities. Focusing on populations that experience late diagnosis, including Hispanic/Latino groups, it explores how social, cultural, and environmental factors shape engagement in screening and research. Through partnerships with community organizations and the use of surveys and interviews, the study will generate community-informed strategies to improve awareness, trust, and equitable access to early detection.
Noninvasive, Quantitative Bedside Photoacoustic Imaging of Cortical Neurovascular Function Through Transparent Cranial Implants to Mitigate Post-Stroke Dementia Risk
- Lei Li, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice
- Pablo Valdes, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, UTMB
This project develops a noninvasive, bedside imaging approach to monitor brain blood flow and oxygenation in patients recovering from stroke or brain surgery, who are at heightened risk for cognitive decline. Using photoacoustic imaging through a specialized transparent skull implant, the study enables real-time visualization of brain circulation without disrupting clinical care. By designing a portable system and conducting pilot studies, the work aims to detect early warning signs of impaired blood flow and support earlier interventions to prevent long-term cognitive decline.
Targeting repeat expansion instability with de novo DNA slip-out binding proteins
- Cameron Glasscock, Assistant Professor of BioSciences, Rice
This project addresses repeat expansion disorders, such as Huntington’s disease and myotonic dystrophy, which share a harmful process in which repetitive DNA sequences become increasingly unstable over time and drive disease progression. Rather than targeting downstream effects like toxic RNA or proteins, the work focuses on stopping this DNA instability before repeats reach a disease-causing threshold. To do this, the project develops novel molecular tools that recognize complex DNA structures, laying the groundwork for future studies in disease-relevant models.
A Wearable Bioimpedance Cap to Monitor Brain Health and Nutrition in Aging Texans
- Raudel Avila, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rice
This project addresses rising risks of memory loss and dementia among older adults by focusing on everyday health factors such as nutrition, hydration, and brain blood flow that influence brain aging long before symptoms appear. It explores the feasibility of a comfortable, baseball-cap–style wearable device that noninvasively measures subtle physical signals related to brain hydration and vascular health during daily life. By using simulations and pilot testing to validate reliable measurements, the study aims to enable early monitoring of brain health and support preventive strategies that promote independence and quality of life among older Texans.
Multiplexed Epigenetic Editing for Understanding and Intervening in Alzheimer's Disease
- Isaac Hilton, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Rice
- Laura Lavery, Assistant Professor of BioSciences, Rice
This project addresses Alzheimer’s disease by targeting the underlying loss of neuronal connections rather than downstream plaque buildup, recognizing that the disease is driven by multiple genes acting together. Using advanced CRISPR-based tools that precisely adjust gene activity, the study simultaneously targets two key genetic drivers of toxic buildup and synaptic destruction. Tested in a clinically relevant mouse model with a safe, non-viral delivery system, this work aims to preserve brain connections, prevent memory loss, and lay the groundwork for new multi-gene treatments for Alzheimer’s and related neurodegenerative diseases.
Engineering CRISPRa sgRNAs to Restore Cacna1a Expression in CACNA1A-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Quanbing Mou, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Rice
- Qing-Long Miao, Assistant Professor Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine
This project aims to develop a gene-regulation therapy for childhood absence epilepsy by restoring activity of the CACNA1A gene, which is essential for normal neuronal communication but not corrected by current medications. Using a modified CRISPR system that acts as a gene “dimmer switch,” the study increases CACNA1A expression without editing DNA, while overcoming delivery challenges through chemically enhanced RNA guides. Tested in cultured neurons and a mouse model of absence epilepsy, this work aims to improve neural signaling and establish a safe pathway for treating epilepsy and other brain disorders.
Optimizing Message-based Interventions for Affect in Alzheimer's Disease Caregivers
- Momona Yamagami, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice
- Christopher Fagundes, Professor of Psychological Sciences, Rice
This project addresses the physical and mental health challenges faced by spouses caring for partners with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by improving just-in-time supportive interventions. Building on prior work that uses wearable and smartphone data to detect caregivers’ emotional states, the study develops algorithms to determine the optimal timing and frequency of supportive text messages. Using real-world caregiver data, the project aims to enhance automated interventions so support is delivered when caregivers are most distressed and most receptive.
Light-Induced Brain Delivery of Therapeutic Antibodies for Alzheimer's Disease
- Han Xiao, Professor of Chemistry, Rice
This project addresses limitations in current Alzheimer’s disease treatments by improving delivery of antibody therapies to the brain, which is restricted by the blood–brain barrier. Using a noninvasive, light-based approach that temporarily opens the barrier through near-infrared activation of dye-based nanoparticles, the study aims to enhance drug penetration without surgery or tissue damage. Tested in Alzheimer’s disease models, this strategy has the potential to improve treatment effectiveness, reduce side effects, and enable safer delivery of life-saving therapies to the brain.
Microinfarct-Induced Disruption of Visual Processing as a Contributor to Vascular Dementia
- Lan Luan, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice
This project investigates how tiny blood-vessel injuries in the brain, known as microinfarcts, contribute to dementia by disrupting how brain cells work together to process visual information. Using a mouse model, the study precisely induces individual microinfarcts and measures changes in brain activity and visual decision-making before and after each injury. By also testing whether targeted brain stimulation can restore normal activity and behavior, the work aims to clarify how microvascular damage drives cognitive decline and inform new treatment strategies.
SSRI-Mediated, Neuroprotective Metabolic Rewiring
- Natasha Kirienko, Associate Professor of BioSciences, Rice
This project addresses neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by targeting a shared cellular failure: the inability to remove damaged mitochondria, which leads to neuronal dysfunction and cell death. Focusing on the mitophagy regulator PINK1, the study uncovers an unexpected network of genes involved in stress response and longevity and identifies an FDA-approved antidepressant that activates mitophagy through a novel mechanism independent of its known serotonin effects. By validating these findings in human neuronal systems, the work aims to rapidly repurpose affordable drugs as neuroprotective therapies and improve understanding of mitochondrial health in aging.
Neuroimmune Interactions in Dementias of Aging and Development
- Harini Iyer, Assistant Professor of BioSciences, Rice
This project investigates how microglia—the brain’s primary immune cells—become improperly activated in neurological disorders, leading to the loss of healthy neurons and cognitive impairment. Using live imaging in zebrafish, a model that allows real-time observation of microglia in their natural environment, the study examines the functions of genes disrupted in childhood- and adult-onset dementias. By clarifying how microglial behavior becomes dysregulated, this work aims to identify new ways to redirect their functions toward maintaining brain health.