Research Education Component (REC)

REVISED ABSTRACT: The mission of the University of Southern California (USC) Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Research Education Component (REC) is to direct the scientific careers of scientists from multiple disciplines into a career in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) research. Co-directed by Hussein Yassine and Duke Han and leveraging unique training programs and research resources in the USC academic environment, REC scholars will be trained with an emphasis on age-associated vascular/metabolic processes that affect brain health and ADRD risk in APOE ε4 carriers and the population in Los Angeles (LA) County. Through the USC ADRC REC, trainees will be exposed to an annual program where they are introduced to mentors, oriented to existing ADRC resources (imaging data, clinical trial and longitudinal data, and tissue samples), and provided with an opportunity for development project funding support. We will integrate current post-doctoral and junior faculty trainees at USC from relevant training and academic programs. ADRC scientists will be mentored in how to advance their career in ADRD research within the context of multidisciplinary collaborations with experts in biostatistics, neuropsychology, medicine, gerontology, sociology, demography, economics, computer science, and social work. This program will support scientifically informed research on older adult populations and prepare scientists to become independent researchers through three Specific Aims: (1) Support ADRC scientists through a multidisciplinary training program integrated with the USC RCMAR led by Julie Zissomopoulos, development project funding, and an annual symposium. (2) Support the career development of one post-doctoral investigator who has shown professional promise for a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship sponsored by the USC Keck School of Medicine Dean’s office. The fellowship will be focused on AD risk in large and small populations. (3) Monitor the progress of ADRC scientists during the period of the award as well as through their early career milestones (e.g., receipt of an independent grant). ADRC scientist alumni will be supported through continued involvement in activities that support and improve both their career opportunities and the experience of the next cohort of development project grantees. To date, the USC ADRC REC has successfully contributed to the development of multiple early career and junior scholars devoted to ADRD research. The continued success of this program will be monitored by the degree to which the scientific career trajectories of the investigators are successful, specifically with respect to an ADRD research focus and extramural funding.