# 2019-2021 Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration Conferences

> **NIH NIH U13** · ALZHEIMER'S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION · 2021 · $74,900

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
There is a well-documented knowledge and resource gap in translating basic research into novel
therapeutics. Outside of the pharmaceutical industry, there are very few opportunities for the
next generation of scientific leaders to learn about the drug discovery and development process
in general, and particularly for neurodegenerative diseases. To meet this need, the Alzheimer’s
Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) developed the annual Drug Discovery for
Neurodegeneration (DDND) conference, which has reached 1,698 participants since its
inception in 2007. The ADDF requests a U13 Cooperative Agreement conference grant for three
years of support for its DDND conference, scheduled for the Southern CA area in March 2019;
Miami, FL or Washington DC in March 2020; and the Southern CA area in March 2021.
The goals of these didactic conferences are consistent with the initiatives set forth at the NIH’s
2012 and 2015 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Summits: to bridge the knowledge gap in drug
discovery for neurodegenerative diseases; to bring together interdisciplinary scientists to
stimulate new ways of combining skills and disciplines; and to provide networking opportunities
for these scientists to exchange ideas and resources.
These conferences will provide participants with fundamental knowledge and resources on
developing new drugs to treat and prevent neurodegenerative diseases, and will address the
challenges associated with the following sub-topics: Embarking on a Drug Discovery
Campaign; Drug Discovery: From Lead to Clinical Candidate; Accelerating Therapies into
Clinical Trials; Strategies for CNS Targets: Case Study Examples; and Building the
Infrastructure to Commercialize Science into Products. Discussions will include relevant
examples focused on small molecule and biologic development for neurodegenerative diseases.
Sessions will consist of 20-minute presentations with 10-minute Q&As, and the program will
include sessions for networking, mentoring, poster sessions presented by young investigators,
and an early investigator career panel.
With respect to public-private partnerships, the ADDF will invite 21 internationally recognized
scientists from academia, industry, and the NIH to serve as chairs or speakers. We have
assembled a Scientific Advisory Committee that has agreed to participate for the next three
years to assist in the development of the conferences. It is anticipated that these conferences will
serve 150 scientists annually from diverse backgrounds, including women, minorities,
young/junior investigators, and graduate students.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10180809
- **Project number:** 5U13AG052268-06
- **Recipient organization:** ALZHEIMER'S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Howard M. Fillit
- **Activity code:** U13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $74,900
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-15 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10180809

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10180809, 2019-2021 Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration Conferences (5U13AG052268-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10180809. Licensed CC0.

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