Summer Wu, a senior at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, is working with Kirsten Viola, the lab manager of Dr. Klein's lab, to develop an optimized,  targeted probe for use as an imaging therapy for Alzheimer's Disease. Antibodies specific to beta-amyloid oligomers, which previous studies have shown to cause Alzheimer's Disease, will be conjugated to magnetic nanoparticles. This combination will achieve both sensitivity to neurotoxins as well as enhanced magnetic resonance imaging signal. The efficacy of the probe will be analyzed after intranasal delivery to mice.

From left to right: Kirsten Viola & Summer Wu