# Biomarker Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · $422,358

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – BIOMARKER CORE
The Exploratory Vanderbilt Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (VADRC) Biomarker Core will leverage
Vanderbilt’s institutional strengths in proteomics, neuroimaging, and genetics to provide a scalable
infrastructure that can support biomarker collection, storage, analysis, integration, and distribution. Under the
leadership of Dr. Timothy Hohman, we have established Vanderbilt as the Genomics Core for the Preclinical
Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium, established the Biomarker Core for a multi-site cohort and autopsy study of
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia correlates of delirium, led multiple large-scale discovery and candidate
proteomic analyses emphasizing novel markers of risk and resilience to Alzheimer’s disease, and established
the Resilience from Alzheimer’s Disease database, a local biomarker data repository that harmonizes fluid,
neuroimaging, and genomic data across 10+ independent cohort studies. For the P20, we will leverage our
local rich infrastructure and resources to acquire robust fluid, neuroimaging, and genetic biomarkers for the
Clinical Core and affiliated cohort studies within the VADRC. The Biomarker Core and Clinical Core will work
closely to ensure proper collection of relevant biomarkers using established, standardized protocols reflecting
current best practices. Fluid, neuroimaging, and genetic data will be processed and stored within an
established relational database, and the Biomarker Core will work to ensure proper storage and processing of
all samples and data, with multiple quality control measures in place. Samples collected by the Clinical Core
will be integrated by the Biomarker Core into funded, ongoing projects that support the VADRC’s thematic
focus on establishing effective prevention and treatment strategies for non-amyloid pathways of injury that
commonly co-occur with core Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Examples include discovery proteomic projects
using mass-spectrometry, neuroimaging projects through the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium, and
genomics projects as part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium and Alzheimer’s Disease
Sequencing Project. All data will be harmonized with large-scale cohort studies, and the Biomarker Core will
coordinate with the Administrative Core to distribute all biomarker data to support local and national research
activities. The Biomarker Core will also promote educational activities in biospecimen collection, neuroimage
processing, and genetics to promote standardized practices and facilitate novel training experiences for
students, fellows, and faculty. The Biomarker Core is uniquely positioned to integrate proteomic, neuroimaging,
and genomic data pipelines for the VADRC into well-established workflows from national consortia and ensure
that the VADRC remains at the forefront of prevention, large-scale discovery, and therapeutic intervention of
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10470724
- **Project number:** 5P20AG068082-03
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy J Hohman
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $422,358
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-15 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10470724

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10470724, Biomarker Core (5P20AG068082-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10470724. Licensed CC0.

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