Research Education Component

Project Summary Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting more than 5 million Americans. At the same time that the prevalence of AD is increasing, the number of new investigators in the US is decreasing, which may severely hamper our efforts to develop better diagnostic and treatment tools for AD and related dementias (ADRD). During its initial 5 years of existence, the Research Education Component (REC) successfully recruited and trained 20 diverse participants (30% URM) who demonstrated outstanding scholarly productivity and career advancement in the ADRD field. The REC will continue to support the overall goals of the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (GADRC) by fostering innovative research and training activities focused on discovering and translating new ADRD therapeutic targets, interventions, biomarkers, pathogenic mechanisms, precision medicine and multi-etiology dementia. We will achieve this goal by identifying and supporting the research education of junior investigators and trainees from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. In Aim 1, REC leadership and mentors will work with these trainees to develop and execute tailored educational plans for new and early stage investigators to advance towards independence in conducting ADRD research. In Aim 2, we will leverage Emory’s wealth of basic and clinical scientists as well as partner Atlanta- area institutions to identify, recruit and support the research training of new/early stage investigators and trainees from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, with special emphasis on URMs, to engage in ADRD research. In Aim 3, the REC leadership will partner with GADRC leadership, External Advisory Committee, and the Emory Training Grant Support Office to rigorously monitor and evaluate the trainees, mentors, and the overall program, and implement improvements when necessary. Success of the REC will result in rolling cohorts of new investigators with a focus on diversity to lead the next generation of ADRD research.