Clinical Core

NIH RePORTER · NIH · P30 · $871,928 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center: Clinical Core The Mission of the MADRC Clinical Core parallels that of our Center as a whole: to detect clinically meaningful changes in cognition and function in culturally, linguistically, and educationally diverse older participants whose cognition ranges from normal to dementia, and who have syndromic Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), or Frontotemporal Dementia (FTLD). We aim at integrating standard and novel clinical measures with advanced imaging and fluid biomarker data to evaluate clinical progression in the context of disease markers, in order to accurately predict future trajectories. To accomplish these goals, we have three Aims. Aim 1 CONTRIBUTES to the Center’s ability to carry out clinical research on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD), focusing on developing and maintaining a diverse Research Cohort of men and women with enhanced recruitment of our prioritized minority participants (Black or African American and Hispanic), facilitating the collection of neuroimaging studies and fluid biomarkers, and developing a protocol for disclosure of research findings. Aim 2, DEVELOPS new strategies, focusing on achieving universal deep phenotyping of our Research Cohort and developing and testing novel clinical instruments, with an emphasis on digital methods, for early disease detection and tracking of minimum clinically meaningful change that can readily translate into primary care and community-based settings. We will also work closely with the newly created MassGeneral Brigham Alzheimer Therapeutic program – a centralized program focused on equitable access and monitoring of all patients undergoing newly FDA-approved medications for AD in our institution– to implement standard UDS and validated novel measures in those patients. We will continue to share our data and discoveries with other ADRCs and the broader scientific community for validation and implementation. Aim 3 TRAINS clinical fellows and offers immersive experiences of clinical ADRD to REC trainees in clinical diagnosis and provides cutting-edge training in clinical research methods. Aim 4 DIVERSIFIES the Clinical Core staff and Research Cohort participants by fostering recruitment, training, and retention of diverse staff, and fully engaging and facilitating access to our growing minority participants and their local communities to all research, education, and treatment and prevention efforts on ADRD. Overall, our ultimate goal is to engage and promote equity across all stakeholders - patients, caregivers, clinicians and researchers- as direct partners to accelerate toward a cure for ADRD.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10864396
Project number
2P30AG062421-06
Recipient
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
Principal Investigator
Alberto Serrano-Pozo
Activity code
P30
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$871,928
Award type
2
Project period
2019-05-15 → 2029-03-31