Yale Alzheimer Disease Research Center

Yale University, New Haven CT

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: OVERALL YALE ADRC The Yale Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) seeks to advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at a cell biological level with the eventual goal of translating laboratory discoveries into novel effective clinical therapies. Seven Cores (Administrative, Clinical, Data, Biomarker, Neuropathology, iPSC and Recruitment) and a Research Education Component will work together to achieve this goal. Our unifying theme is a focus on the disrupted cell biology of specific neural cells in AD, whether measured by proteome-wide methods in biofluids, imaged diagnostically, manifested in behavioral attributes, detected pathologically in brain tissue at autopsy, or observed in cultures of induced pluripotent stem cells. This focus facilitates an assessment of mechanistic variation across diverse populations. The participation of the seven Cores will accelerate and optimize the ability of individual Research Projects both within and beyond the Yale ADRC to ask and answer specific pathophysiological questions and to translate knowledge to therapies. The breadth of Core support for particular projects will allow assessments across the heterogeneity of AD. The Yale ADRC expects to extend its track record of facilitating Research Projects focused on specific organelles and specific neural cell subtypes perturbed in disease while making use of human tissue analysis and human subject imaging to evaluate mechanistic hypotheses. The Biomarker Core will engage a full range of updated imaging and fluid assays while developing novel, sensitive and high-throughput mass spectrometry methods, and new PET tracers coupled with functional MRI connectivity maps to monitor disease mechanisms. The iPSC Core will support human cellular studies defining the molecular mechanisms of specific endophenotypes of AD and their variation across populations. A key emphasis will be the translational development of research findings into therapeutic benefit. To support the future strength of Alzheimer’s research, the Yale ADRC will strive to advance the careers of a diverse cohort of Young Investigators through mentorship from a distinguished Internal Advisory Board, and through Development Project awards coupled with an extensive educational program developed by the Research Education Component. In addition to collecting clinical data and biospecimens of brain, CSF, blood and iPSCs for analysis by members of the Yale ADRC research team, the Yale ADRC will support other NIH-funded research studies on related topics and contribute materials to national NIA-sponsored research networks including NACC, NCRAD, SCAN and CLARITI. The Outreach Recruitment and Engagement Core will connect with the community to provide greater knowledge regarding AD and related dementia and facilitate recruitment of a diverse spectrum of participants for clinical studies.