Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers

Overall: Project Summary – 2P30AG066444-06 The Washington University Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Knight ADRC) initiates, fosters, and supports the performance of innovative, cutting-edge research on Alzheimer disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) with regard to the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. We provide well-characterized research participants (persons with symptomatic AD and age-matched controls), their clinical, cognitive, and imaging data, and their biospecimens (DNA, CSF, plasma, dermal fibroblasts, iPSCs, brain tissue) to research projects. We also provide intellectual and financial support to scientists at Washington University, other Alzheimer Disease Research Centers, and the research community nationally and internationally and engage in formal and informal collaborations, including multidisciplinary/multi-Center studies and the initiatives sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center. Historically, our Center has focused on the earliest stages of dementia to identify the initial clinical and pathologic changes that distinguish AD from normal aging. Our approach is balanced between clinical and basic science domains with emphasis on interdisciplinary efforts. We will continue our training of students, fellows, and junior faculty in clinical and basic science research skills. We will continue to engage in outreach activities to transfer information on ADRD to lay and professional audiences. We are committed to assuring that our research cohort includes individuals at higher risk for dementia from the greater metropolitan St. Louis area. This renewal application includes eight Cores, plus the Research Education Component (REC): A: Administrative, B: Clinical, C: Data Management & Statistics, D: Neuropathology, E: Outreach, Recruitment, & Engagement, F: Biomarker, G: Genetics & High Throughput -Omics, and H: Health Disparities Engagement.