The collaboration between Florida A&M University-Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) and the Mayo Clinic is setting the stage for groundbreaking advancements in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This partnership unites brilliant minds from the Mayo Clinic in Florida, Florida State University, and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering to pursue innovative therapeutic strategies for this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.
Leading this ambitious research endeavor is Yan Li, a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Her team comprises several doctoral candidates and esteemed experts from the Mayo Clinic. With over 20 years of expertise in pluripotent stem cell biology and extracellular vesicle therapeutics, Li holds dual appointments at both FSU and Mayo Clinic, which further enriches her contributions to the project.
Li emphasizes the importance of their collaborative efforts by stating, "This shared project is significant because of the resources and expertise the Mayo Clinic offers." One of the critical aspects of their research involves utilizing patient-derived three-dimensional brain models. These sophisticated tools empower researchers to assess potential treatments with greater accuracy, using real human biological systems as a foundation.
In a recent study published in Advanced Healthcare Materials (https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.202503579), Li and her team introduced an advanced cellular model designed for investigating brain diseases, significantly enhancing the efficacy of developing improved treatments for affected patients.
By merging brain organoids—laboratory-grown cell structures that replicate human organ function—with immune cells similar to those found in the brain, the researchers created a model that closely resembles the natural environment of the human brain. Unlike more simplistic models, these organoids incorporated microglia-like immune cells, which are the brain's own cleanup and defense agents. This innovation allowed the organoids to simulate inflammatory processes and immune responses, both of which are integral to understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
Utilizing this innovative tool, the research team investigated Alzheimer's disease by exposing the organoids to minute cell-to-cell communicators known as extracellular vesicles, sourced from the brain cells of Alzheimer's patients. Remarkably, they discovered that samples containing healthy immune cells and their respective extracellular vesicles were effective in reducing harmful inflammation and diminishing signals associated with various detrimental proteins prevalent in Alzheimer’s patients.
Li remarked, "This study paves the way for understanding the role of microglia and brain organoids in modeling neural degeneration and the development of extracellular vesicle-based cell-free therapeutics for treating Alzheimer’s disease." The findings offer a novel and more precise approach to studying Alzheimer's and related neurological conditions, suggesting new paths for treatment that leverage extracellular vesicles rather than conventional drugs or transplanted cells.
"Harnessing cellular messengers as medical therapies is an exciting frontier that utilizes the brain's inherent cleanup mechanisms to combat disease," Li explained. "By elucidating these communication pathways, we aspire to develop innovative treatments capable of altering the course of Alzheimer’s disease."
This partnership between FSU and the Mayo Clinic presents a rare opportunity for biomedical engineering Ph.D. students to engage directly in clinical research settings, which is often lacking in traditional engineering programs.
Several prominent researchers from the Mayo Clinic are actively involved in this initiative, including Dr. Takahisa Kanekiyo, an associate professor of neuroscience, and Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, a professor of neurosurgery, who are spearheading the medical aspects of the project. Doctoral students Jennifer Berg Sen, Sailesti Joshi, and Falak Syed are collaborating closely with Li on the academic front.
The students participate in hands-on experiences alongside physicians and medical professionals at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, where they witness patient-centered research in action and acquire advanced laboratory techniques typically unavailable in university environments. This exposure equips engineering students with valuable insights into how their technical endeavors can translate into real-world clinical applications.
Emily Pritchard, assistant provost and assistant vice president for Academic Affairs Health Innovation and Strategic Alliances, expressed her vision saying, "It is my hope that we can expand these kinds of faculty collaborations and student training opportunities to enhance translational research that improves patient outcomes in the future."
For the doctoral students who have already visited the clinic, witnessing tangible medical challenges that their work could help resolve has been a powerful source of motivation. This arrangement not only grants clinicians access to engineering expertise but also provides students with a healthcare context that is seldom achieved through standard engineering curricula.
"Collaborating with the Mayo Clinic has been incredibly inspiring, and I am eager to see where this research leads us in the future," commented Berg Sen.
