A team at Washington University engineered astrocytes expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR‑As) that target amyloid‑β and demonstrated prevention and partial reversal of plaque pathology in Alzheimer’s mouse models. A single intracerebral dose prevented plaque formation when given prophylactically and halved amyloid burden when administered after plaque onset, according to a Science paper led by Marco Colonna. The CAR‑A approach leverages astrocytes’ abundance and CNS residency to clear aggregates with potentially lower dosing frequency than monoclonal antibodies. Authors note safety and delivery optimization remain critical before clinical translation, including assessing inflammation and off‑target effects. Investigators framed the work as proof‑of‑concept for cell‑based CNS immunotherapies and urged further preclinical studies to refine dosing, biodistribution and long‑term outcomes.