# Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN) Program for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

> **NIH NIH K07** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2023 · $162,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Our healthcare system faces larger numbers of individuals with early to late Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other
neurodegenerative disorders requiring anesthesia associated procedures for serious health related conditions
(e.g., cardiac), screening (e.g., colonoscopy), or quality of life improvement (e.g., joint replacement). Despite
evidence that preoperative cognitive status is a risk factor for negative post-operative outcomes, there is a
scarcity of research addressing perioperative cognitive-biomarker-anesthesia interactions, and evidence based
anesthesia-surgical practices for patients with prodromal or diagnosed dementias. The K07 applicant- an NIH
funded independent investigator and board certified neuropsychologist with expertise in the cognitive sequelae
and associated neuroimaging markers of AD, vascular dementia, and other neurodegenerative disorders, and
cognitive and neuroimaging predictors of perioperative cognitive complications and delirium. The applicant (with
support of the institution) is proposing a Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN) Program for AD
and related dementia. The purpose– to promote institutional and community awareness of cognition and memory
in older adults electing surgical procedures with anesthesia, intensify collaborations on AD biomarkers-
anesthesia interactions, and promote translation of research findings to clinical care. The applicant will complete
advanced leadership training and three programmatic aims. Aim 1- convene a multidisciplinary advisory team to
establish four integrated PeCAN research cores targeting AD and related dementia perioperative research.
Cores include a Cognitive-Clinical Core, a Neuroimaging Core, a Biomarker Core, and a Data Science Core.
Aim 2- enhance defined and supportive pathways to the PeCAN cores so that early stage investigators can
efficiently initiate and complete perioperative-neurodegenerative research. The applicant will integrate pathways
between multiple institutional resources including NIH funded 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center,
Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, the University of Florida (UF) Institute on Aging Pepper Center, and the UF
Fixel Center for Neurological Diseases. Aim 3- promote the emergence of highly trained scientists and educators
for innovative team science addressing perioperative neuronal risk and mechanisms for protection. Methods will
involve implementation of a certificate program, interdisciplinary team-science research opportunities, and pilot
funding supported through this grant and institutional matching funds. Trainees will initially include appropriate
predoctoral T32 trainees, neuropsychology fellows, and anesthesiology fellows. Milestones- annual analyses of
programmatic strengths/weaknesses, multidisciplinary proposal submissions, and evidence of trainee success
with perioperative research for AD and related dementias.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10596205
- **Project number:** 5K07AG066813-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** CATHERINE E PRICE
- **Activity code:** K07 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $162,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-15 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10596205

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10596205, Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN) Program for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (5K07AG066813-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10596205. Licensed CC0.

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