Core D: Neuropathology Core

The Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (BU ADRC) Neuropathology Core (NC) facilitates AD/ADRD research, conducts cutting-edge multi-ADRC AD/ADRD research and provides national leadership in AD/ADRD neuropathology. We facilitate AD/ADRD research by performing state-of-the-art diagnostic neuropathological evaluation on all brain donors, sharing well-characterized CNS tissue and biospecimens with qualified investigators; providing deep neuropathological phenotyping to foster innovative collaborations; and training the next generation of AD/ADRD neuropathologists and researchers. In addition, the NC conducts cutting-edge multi-ADRC research on AD/ADRD. The BU ADRC NC’s transformational research on post-traumatic neurodegeneration has changed scientific understanding of neurotrauma as a risk factor for AD/ADRD, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The NC has also shown that exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) alters the deposition of beta amyloid, alpha-synuclein, and TDP-43. Currently, the NC is collaborating with multiple ADRCs and centers (UCSF, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai, MGH, UT San Antonio) to continue this ground- breaking research. In addition, the NC provides national leadership by leading two major multi- ADRC NIH-funded programs on AD/ADRD. The NC will build on this strong record of accomplishment and leadership to support innovative multi-ADRC AD/ADRD research in 3 domains that support National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) milestones for AD/ADRD research: Understanding the contribution of RHI/TBI exposure to AD/ADRD; Understanding the role of age-related and trauma-related microvascular disease and white matter degeneration to AD/ADRD; Improving the neuropathological diagnostic and nosologic criteria for frontotemporal lobar degeneration-tau (FTLD-tau). The NC also works closely with the Framingham Heart Study by directing all brain banking and neuropathological analyses. In partnership with the Concussion Legacy Foundation global brain bank initiative, the BU ADC NC is committed to advancing multi-center international research. Throughout all its aims, the NC will work with the Clinical Core and Data Management and Statistics Core to enhance clinicopathological correlation in AD/ADRD, the Biomarker Core to develop novel biomarkers for AD/ADRD, the Genetics and Molecular Profiling Core to define genetic risk factors for AD/ADRD, the Research Education Component (REC) to engage trainees in scientific investigations and build skills in AD/ADRD research and the Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core (ORE) to educate the greater Boston community about the value of brain donation.