ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH PROJECT: 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

Ongoing progress includes continued phased import of male and female LE rats at 1-month of age for longitudinal assessment, with a current cumulative project sample of over 860 subjects entered; collection of over 900 individual animal whole-brain structural, diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI scans using a dedicated high-field Bruker 9.4T scanner; deep longitudinal phenotyping of multiple physical and cognitive domains; extensive longitudinal sample and terminal biospecimen collection including plasma, microdissected brain, vaginal lavage, and many peripheral tissues. Leveraging a validated rat model that prominently features increased individual differences in cognitive outcome at 2 years of age, STARRRS generates well-powered longitudinal datasets for identifying biological and behavioral mediators of successful cognitive aging, and for examining how sex modulates these trajectories. Project design and implementation is valuably informed by intra- and extramural stakeholder input, including standing and ad-hoc, topic-oriented workgroups, i.e., a STARRRS Executive Group; Biospecimen Workgroup; Behavioral Workgroup; Data Management & Sharing Workgroup; Tech Team Workgroup; and a Neuroimaging Workgroup. STARRRS-generated data and resources is hosted and available for distribution on the NIA-supported Aging Research Biobank, including a coordination and digital data center with user request portal, and coordinated biospecimen repository.