Binghamton Researcher Challenges Alzheimer's Hypothesis

Professor Wei Qiang's work using solid-state NMR spectroscopy could reframe understanding of the disease's origins.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Binghamton University chemistry professor Wei Qiang has been studying the early stages of Alzheimer's disease for over a decade, using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate how the amyloid-beta peptides that are thought to mark the beginning of the disease actually start to form their aggregated structures. Qiang's research, which has received around $2 million in NIH funding since 2018, is challenging the longstanding hypothesis about the linear progression of Alzheimer's and could lead to new approaches for therapeutic development.

Why it matters

Alzheimer's is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of Americans, and current treatments have had limited success. Qiang's research using advanced NMR techniques to study the earliest stages of amyloid aggregation could provide new insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's, potentially leading to more effective drug targets and therapies.

The details

Qiang's work focuses on understanding how the amyloid-beta peptides that are thought to trigger Alzheimer's actually begin to assemble into the aggregated structures that disrupt cell membranes. Using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, which is ideal for studying disordered systems, Qiang and his team are able to take snapshots of the amyloid aggregation process at different stages. They have progressed from studying artificially synthesized membrane models to working with real cell systems, which requires keeping the living cells in a state of deep cryogenic freeze during the experiments. Qiang's research is also challenging the longstanding hypothesis about the linear progression of Alzheimer's, as he believes the structural polymorphism of the amyloid fibrils may be more relevant than previously thought.

  • Qiang has been studying Alzheimer's since he joined the Binghamton University faculty over a decade ago.
  • Qiang's research has received around $2 million in funding from the NIH's National Institute for General Medical Sciences since 2018.

The players

Wei Qiang

A chemistry professor at Binghamton University who has been investigating the early stages of Alzheimer's disease using solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Celia Klin

The dean of Binghamton University's Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, who praised Qiang's research as exemplifying the high-impact science that defines the college.

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What they’re saying

“Professor Wei Qiang's research using solid-state NMR spectroscopy to study Alzheimer's disease exemplifies the kind of high-impact science that defines Harpur College of Arts and Sciences.”

— Celia Klin, Dean of Harpur College (Binghamton University)

“The information we get from here will help for the design of an agent that could prevent the process. It's like any kind of drug design you would have for pharmaceutical companies.”

— Wei Qiang, Chemistry Professor (Binghamton University)

What’s next

Qiang plans to continue advancing his research by moving from studying undifferentiated cell lines to working with full, real neurons in order to better understand how the amyloid structures proliferate in the brain.

The takeaway

Qiang's research using cutting-edge NMR spectroscopy techniques to study the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease could lead to a fundamental reframing of the longstanding hypothesis about the linear progression of the disease, potentially opening up new avenues for therapeutic development and improved treatments.