Biomarker-Core

Oregon Health & Science University, Portland OR

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Summary: Biomarker Core The Biomarker Core is aligned to support the overall goals of the Oregon Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (OADRC): To provide a structure and forum to foster and develop new and innovative research in brain aging and the dementias, and to facilitate collaborative research, scientific interactions, and data sharing transfer with other Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers, the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease, and many other relevant outside research groups. The mission of the OADRC Biomarker Core is to improve and maximize the quality and availability of biomarker samples and information for research. It is organized to support current research, and to anticipate future research requirements made possible by new knowledge and new technologies. The Specific Aims of the Biomarker Core are as follows: 1) To obtain and make available for research, biomarker specimens (DNA, plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from OADRC participants, including healthy controls, participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and participants with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD); 2) To obtain and make available for research, biomarker data on OADRC participants. Our Center possesses a strong combination of expertise in the fields of vascular biology, neuroinflammation, sleep, glymphatic function, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in the context of ADRD that makes us uniquely suited to be a resource for biomarker data as well as specimens related to these endpoints. These will include established biomarkers, as well as promising innovative biomarkers that leverage OADRC’s particular expertise: a) apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype on all participants, b) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiles related to aquaporin-4 and other sleep-active glymphatic markers on select cohorts, c) plasma beta amyloid (Aβ) 40 and 42, p-tau-217, p-tau-181, and t-tau, neurofilament light (NFL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) values, d) expression levels of the antioxidant biomarker nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) in PBMCs from select cohorts; 3) To foster collaborative research involving biomarkers and neurodegenerative disease. The areas of emphasis for the OADRC have been described in the overview as: 1) Preclinical dementia and disease progression, with a focus on under-represented groups in research including the oldest old, Black, and isolated older adults (e.g., those living alone or in rural communities); 2) Markers of meaningful change captured through studies of peripheral biomarkers, neuroimaging and continuous in-home behavioral monitoring (including known biological drivers of ADRD- pathology such as sleep/activity); 3) Neuropathology of brain aging and multiple etiology dementias; 4) Novel testing of novel treatments; and 5) Improving education and sharing knowledge about dementia. These areas will be priorities for the Core to support in collaborative work. In addition, the OADRC recognizes a responsibility to support all NIH-funded and comparably peer-reviewed research whenever possible.