# Core D: Neuropathology Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 2024 · $297,102

## Abstract

The Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (BU ADRC) Neuropathology Core
(NC) facilitates AD/ADRD research, conducts cutting-edge multi-ADRC AD/ADRD research and
provides national leadership in AD/ADRD neuropathology. We facilitate AD/ADRD research by
performing state-of-the-art diagnostic neuropathological evaluation on all brain donors, sharing
well-characterized CNS tissue and biospecimens with qualified investigators; providing deep
neuropathological phenotyping to foster innovative collaborations; and training the next
generation of AD/ADRD neuropathologists and researchers. In addition, the NC conducts
cutting-edge multi-ADRC research on AD/ADRD. The BU ADRC NC’s transformational research
on post-traumatic neurodegeneration has changed scientific understanding of neurotrauma as a
risk factor for AD/ADRD, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The NC has also
shown that exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) alters the deposition of beta amyloid,
alpha-synuclein, and TDP-43. Currently, the NC is collaborating with multiple ADRCs and
centers (UCSF, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai, MGH, UT San Antonio) to continue this ground-
breaking research. In addition, the NC provides national leadership by leading two major multi-
ADRC NIH-funded programs on AD/ADRD. The NC will build on this strong record of
accomplishment and leadership to support innovative multi-ADRC AD/ADRD research in 3
domains that support National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) milestones for AD/ADRD
research: Understanding the contribution of RHI/TBI exposure to AD/ADRD; Understanding the
role of age-related and trauma-related microvascular disease and white matter degeneration to
AD/ADRD; Improving the neuropathological diagnostic and nosologic criteria for frontotemporal
lobar degeneration-tau (FTLD-tau). The NC also works closely with the Framingham Heart
Study by directing all brain banking and neuropathological analyses. In partnership with the
Concussion Legacy Foundation global brain bank initiative, the BU ADC NC is committed to
advancing multi-center international research. Throughout all its aims, the NC will work with the
Clinical Core and Data Management and Statistics Core to enhance clinicopathological
correlation in AD/ADRD, the Biomarker Core to develop novel biomarkers for AD/ADRD, the
Genetics and Molecular Profiling Core to define genetic risk factors for AD/ADRD, the Research
Education Component (REC) to engage trainees in scientific investigations and build skills in
AD/ADRD research and the Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core (ORE) to educate
the greater Boston community about the value of brain donation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10873346
- **Project number:** 5P30AG072978-04
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** Ann C. McKee
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $297,102
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10873346

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10873346, Core D: Neuropathology Core (5P30AG072978-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10873346. Licensed CC0.

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