TArgeting Multiphosphorylated tau in Blood for non-invasive Alzheimer's Disease diagnosis and staging

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the major cause of dementia. The disease has an escalating impact on public health due to an increasing prevalence among the aging population in Europe and globally. In light of the first disease-modifying therapies becoming available, early diagnosis and precise disease staging are crucial for timely implementation of the treatment strategy. In TAMBO-AD, I will build on my preliminary findings to leverage AD biomarker potential of tau simultaneously phosphorylated at two distinct sites. By combining my expertise in immunoassay development with the top technology available at the host institution, I will develop three novel Single Molecule Array (Simoa®) assays targeting p-tau217&231, p-tau205&217, and p-tau205&231. Through cerebrospinal fluid and plasma measurements in the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort, I will evaluate performance of all three p-tau forms as: 1) early diagnostic and 2) disease-staging biomarkers. For the best-performing plasma biomarkers, I will translate Simoa® assays into innovative fiber optic nanogold-linked immunosorbent assay format (FONLISA), which enables point-of-care testing. New point-of-care testing assays will maximize biomarker testing accessibility, enabling use in primary care centers and in remote or resource-limited areas. Finally, I will communicate the project and disseminate results in English and Polish during an intersectoral secondment at the patient organization — Alzheimer Europe. The TAMBO-AD project represents a pivotal opportunity to advance my research, grow professional network, and gradually become an independent researcher.