Vanderbilt Alzheimer's Disease Research Center: Biomarker Core

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – BIOMARKER CORE The Vanderbilt Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (VADRC) Biomarker Core will support all biomarker acquisition, processing, and storage to advance the VADRC mission of characterizing the intersection of vascular burden on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) at the cellular, systems biological, and population levels. The Biomarker Core will leverage Vanderbilt’s institutional strengths in neuroimaging, human genomics, and proteomics to provide infrastructure to support biomarker collection, storage, analysis, integration, and distribution, with an emphasis on vascular biomarkers. In collaboration with the Clinical Core, we will acquire robust fluid, neuroimaging, and genetic biomarkers. Procedures will include acquisition of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). All biofluid samples will be processed, spun, aliquoted, and stored in accordance with the National Centralized Repository for ADRD (NCRAD). Blood will be used to extract DNA and RNA, as well as plasma biomarkers of phosphorylated tau (p-tau), neurofilament light, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. CSF will be used to quantify amyloid beta, total tau, p-tau, and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2. Multi-modal 3T MRI will be used to quantify cortical thickness, brain volumes, white matter hyperintensities, white matter microstructural integrity, microbleeds, cerebral blood flow, and cerebrovascular reactivity. PET data will be used to quantify amyloid beta and tau levels. We will classify all participants using the established amyloid/tau/neurodegeneration framework using established cut points. We will also pilot a novel “vascular” score that incorporates multiple vascular biomarkers to better characterize vascular disease burden in all participants. All data will be stored in a shared informatics infrastructure created in collaboration with the Data Management and Statistical Core. The Biomarker Core will partner closely with the Neuropathology Core to provide postmortem fluid and process ex vivo neuroimaging data. The Biomarker Core will harmonize all biomarker data with other large-scale cohort studies and distribute all biomarker data to support local, national, and international research activities, including NCRAD and the National Institute on Aging Genetics of AD Storage Site. The Biomarker Core will provide biospecimens to facilitate novel analytical platforms, including a proteomics discovery pipeline. Finally, the Biomarker Core will promote educational activities in biospecimen collection, neuroimage processing, and genetics for trainees, staff, and faculty. This training will engage Research Education Component scholars and affiliates from diverse backgrounds and fields to broaden the scope of ADRD biomarker research.