STARRRS: an open rat resource for the study of reserve and resilience against Alzheimer's disease

National Institute On Aging

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Significant project achievements during the reporting period include completion of a new, dedicated high-field 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging facility; infrastructure development for deep longitudinal phenotyping of multiple physical and cognitive domains; initial project staff recruitment; optimization and validation of behavioral testing, biospecimen collection and processing procedures. Utilizing a validated rat model that prominently features increased individual differences in cognitive aging, STARRRS will generate well-powered longitudinal datasets for identifying biological and behavioral mediators of successful cognitive aging, and for examining how sex modulates these trajectories. STARRRS design and implementation is valuably informed by intra- and extramural stakeholder input, including standing, topic-oriented workgroups, i.e., a STARRRS Executive Group; Biospecimen Workgroup; Behavioral Workgroup; Data Management & Sharing Workgroup; Tech Team Workgroup; and most recently configured, a Neuroimaging Workgroup. A major focus during the current project period has been on developing plans to establish facilities to manage and distribute STARRRS resources, i.e., a web-based coordination and digital data center, and a biospecimen repository. The STARRRS online coordination center will develop and maintain a relational database of all project resources, as well as manage user requests for data and biospecimens, coordinate release of materials, provide user support, and promote STARRRS utilization to the research community. A proposal to fund these facilities has been submitted and reviewed, and pending final approval, a solicitation for potential vendors will be issued early in the next project year.