IMPRINT - Immersive Methods for Promoting Research and Innovations through Novel Training - for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

University Of California Berkeley, Berkeley CA

Investigators

Abstract

IMPRINT for ADRD will consist of two key tracks, combining immersion in the lived experiences of people affected by Alzheimer’s with training in key aspects of entrepreneurship. Specifically, the course will include lessons on key elements of biology and pathophysiology, as well as the social & lifestyle determinants that impact an ADRD patient’s health. It will include an exploration of novel design solutions, such as a digital phenotyping, as well as data science tools to elucidate options for earlier detection and prevention. In addition, participants will observe and potentially engage with patients in their care environments through in-field ethnography. Entrepreneurship training will provide an immersive, inductive learning approach to guide participants and teams on the path from ideation to market, including how to define a problem, methodical approach to solution development. Together, these two tracks combine a patient-centric, technical, and ethical methods that will help participants develop effective, inclusive and comprehensive evidence-based interventions and/or treatments to enhance outcomes for people affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementia diseases. The program will be built on best practices for healthcare-related innovation and entrepreneurship. Key components of the program will be led by academic and industry experts in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, clinical development and evaluation, FDA, legal and regulatory issues, entrepreneurship, SBIR/STTR grant writing, and more. We will collaborate with colleagues and programs from UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, industry, foundations, memory care centers, and other relevant stakeholders and/or partners. The pedagogical approach will combine project based learning to foster discovery of solutions with adult social learning theory (e,g, cooperative learning, building on each subsequent activity, reinforced by in-field interactions with senior care centers and health technology companies. Program participants will comprise a cohort of 12-15 graduate students and postdocs from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and interests, with a focus on attracting applicants from underrepresented communities. The IMPRINT program is a one-year, hybrid model, with 15 days of immersive interactive (~12 days at course launch and 5 days at the end) that will cover team building, site visits, prototyping sessions, and final presentations, combined with weekly remote sessions (2 hrs/session x 2 sessions/week). Participants will receive a Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Technology in ADRD upon completion.