Neuropathology Core

ABSTRACT – NEUROPATHOLOGY CORE The Neuropathology Core serves a critical role in the Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) given the neuropathological assessment needed for a definitive Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis and the demand for brain and other tissue from individuals whose behavioral, clinical, and biological trajectories were well-documented prior to death. The Core supports research and innovations across the Duke/UNC ADRC research community, by performing postmortem histopathological analysis and providing well-annotated and high-quality postmortem tissue and biofluids to investigators studying AD and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD+ADRD). Building on strong infrastructure at Duke and UNC, the Core proposes the following Specific Aims: 1) Collect, store, and distribute unique and high-quality postmortem blood, CSF, brain, and eye tissue. 2) Facilitate cutting-edge omics studies of AD. 3) Provide neuropathology diagnostic support. 4) Track and report neuropathology data and specimen distribution. 5) Provide diagnostic training and scientific leadership to investigators utilizing Core resources for research. The Core’s combination of state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures, collection of high-quality postmortem tissue, and expertise in diagnostic training will enable the creation and expansion of high-impact research initiatives across the ADRC aimed at the identification of age- related drivers of AD.