Core D: Neuropathology Core

PROJECT SUMMARY – NEUROPATHOLOGY CORE (CORE D) The Neuropathology (NP) Core has been a foundation of the UCI ADRC, providing definitive etiological diagnoses while also procuring and distributing brains and biospecimens to support the local and national AD/ADRD research ecosystems. The NP Core provides a common "gold standard" assessment of AD and ADRD, thus serving as a vital resource in support of the UCI ADRC theme of accelerating discovery in AD/ADRD research across special populations. During the current cycle, the NP Core did not miss a single brain donation despite the COVID-19 pandemic, collecting 211 brains, fulfilling 189 requests (a projected doubling over the previous 5-year cycle), and supporting 41 publications and 64 grants, including 54 NIH grants. The NP Core also expanded its neuropathology faculty, supported the first two fellows in a brand-new ACGME-accredited Neuropathology fellowship training program, incorporated whole slide imaging-machine learning (WSI-ML) infrastructure, and established postmortem imaging workflows with the Biomarker Core. With these expansions, enhancements, and biorepository of >1500 brains, the NP Core is poised to further advance its diagnostic, distribution, research, and education missions. In the next cycle, the NP Core will work closely with several ADRC Cores to pursue 5 specific aims to innovate via an expanded and harmonized WSI-ML pipeline to accelerate NP discovery; collaborate with NP and other Core investigators on projects involving WSI-ML, postmortem imaging, and iPSC research, and; educate the next generation of AD/ADRD neuropathologists, clinicians, researchers, and leaders in collaboration with Research Education Component.