# Clinical Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $779,002

## Abstract

Clinical Core – Project Summary
 The Clinical Core (CC) is the centerpiece of the Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
(WF ADRC), providing rigorously collected and innovative resources to advance the ADRC themes: to
elucidate the factors influencing the transitions from normal aging to MCI and dementia, with special
emphasis on understanding the role of vascular and metabolic conditions and health disparities in
these transitions. Although in existence for only four years, the CC has surpassed its original enrollment
target of 500 participants. As of August 2020, we enrolled 583 participants (20% from underrepresented
groups), contributed 1135 UDS3 evaluations and 555 MRI images to NACC, and 295 samples to NCRAD. The
CC has also contributed 256 well-characterized participants to clinical studies. Consonant with the WF ADRC
focus on early transitions, the cohort is weighted toward cognitively normal adults and participants with MCI,
with a smaller number of participants with AD, mixed AD/vascular or other dementias. All participants have
been carefully characterized with the UDS3 and MRI, and with specialized metabolic and vascular measures.
Many participants have also undergone lumbar puncture, amyloid or tau PET, and mitochondrial analysis. In
the coming cycle, we will increase the CC cohort size to follow 600 participants and will introduce a panel of
innovative biometric measures relating to sleep, physical activity, glucose metabolism, and vascular function.
 The CC cohort is well-suited to address WF ADRC themes and provide resources that will
contribute to greater understanding of the influence of metabolic/vascular factors and health
disparities on ADRD risk. Approximately 70% of CC participants have glucose intolerance or hypertension,
as expected given high regional prevalence of these disorders. To facilitate research on the role of health
disparities in AD risk, we will work with the Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core to maximize
engagement with underrepresented groups. Our CC will also align with the WF Older Adults Independence
Center (OAIC) to facilitate studies on the role of aging in AD. Further, CC investigators will participate in an
innovative program to foster alignment of large cohort studies with ADRC practices through the Clinical
HArmonization and IMPlementation Service (CHAMPS). WF CHAMPS led the development and piloting of the
UDS3 Telephone/Video Cognitive Battery provided to ADRCs when in-person research was restricted due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. In summary, our CC has made exceptional progress in its first 4 years; it has
enrolled 583 participants, contributed copious resources to the ADRC network, and provided a foundation for
the explosive growth of ADRD research at Wake Forest. In the next cycle, we will leverage this success to
further promote high-impact research on strategies for prevention and treatment of AD and related disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10262849
- **Project number:** 1P30AG072947-01
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeff Douglas Williamson
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $779,002
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10262849

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10262849, Clinical Core (1P30AG072947-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10262849. Licensed CC0.

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