Neuroimaging Core

REVISED ABSTRACT: The Neuroimaging Core (Imaging Core) of the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (MADRC) provides state-of-the-art neuroimaging expertise for the MADRC and affiliated research studies, for collaborative efforts with other ADRCs, and for national ADRD research initiatives. The Imaging Core brings together a multidisciplinary group of investigators and a rich array of resources to better understand the drivers of clinical progression of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD). We will acquire, analyze, and share MRI scans on all Research Cohort participants every other year and will obtain, process, and distribute longitudinal amyloid and tau PET scans and an enhanced MRI protocol on an Intensive Imaging Subgroup (in response to the RFA mandated imaging datasets). We will promote the exchange of expertise and collaboration to make optimal use of participant involvement and scan data, and to support MADRC-affiliated research. This will catalyze the pooling of local resources and imaging datasets, supporting emergent scientific discovery through collaborative analyses beyond those funded by individual grants. In addition, MADRC Imaging Core personnel work closely with national and international research efforts in and beyond the ADRCs to optimize neuroimaging biomarkers for use in ADRD research and trials as we enter an era of disease-modifying therapies. The Imaging Core will play a major role in helping MADRC achieve its overarching goal of understanding drivers of clinical progression. The Core aims to contribute MRI and PET data and analytic and interpretive expertise to local, regional, national, and international ADRD research (Aim 1). The Core will develop, implement, and share new MRI and PET imaging methods and data to better understand inter-individual variability in the pace of change. We will utilize imaging data from MADRC-funded and affiliated studies as well as uniformly collected imaging data from clinical assessments to better understand how new treatment modalities affect clinical progression and impact research (Aim 2). We will train clinical and translational researchers in imaging methods and support imaging clinicians/scientists in conducting ADRD imaging research by collaborating with the Research Education Component (REC) (Aim 3). The Core aims to maximize the Research Cohort and other ADRD imaging research participants as well as staff by working with the ORE Core and other cores in outreach and educational efforts (Aim 4). We will freely disseminate our methodological innovations to the scientific community and promote open and reproducible science through imaging data and acquisition and analytic methods sharing.