Translational Research in Alzheimer's Disease and related Dementias (TRADD)

Project Summary/Abstract The University of Arizona (UArizona) Training Program to Advance Translational Research on Alzheimer's Disease and AD Related Dementias (AZ-TRADD) is designed to address knowledge and experience gaps in AD therapeutic discovery and preclinical translational development. To meet this challenge, the UArizona Translational Research in AD and related Dementias (AZ-TRADD) training program is designed as a problem based translational learning experience for predoctoral Ph.D and M.D./Ph.D fellows. In alignment with the 2021 NIH Alzheimer’s Research Summit: Path to Precision Medicine for Treatment and Prevention and the 2011 National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), the goal of the AZ-TRADD training program is to fill critical gaps that exist for AD translational research in academic graduate programs. To achieve this goal, the AZ-TRADD program will: 1) recruit trainees across multiple scientific disciplines; 2) employ problem-based learning approaches to solve challenges in AD therapeutic development with emerging tools and techniques; and 3) equip AZ-TRADD trainees with career development and leadership skills necessary to conduct team science and manage multidisciplinary teams. Through this approach, we ensure that AZ-TRADD trainees develop deep translational research expertise necessary for AD therapeutic development, while: 1) cultivating the ability to creatively and collaboratively solve problems working with experts across the translational landscape as part of large-scale team science; 2) gaining an applied understanding of how data science, particularly using data generated by AMP-AD, M2OVE-AD and ADNI, can accelerate translational research and provide avenues to novel therapeutic insights; 3) connecting geno- and phenotypic variations and multifaceted etiology of AD to therapeutic targets; and 4) gaining essential professional and business skills to navigate a diverse funding landscape and translate discoveries into the clinical setting. AZ-TRADD fellows will receive career mentoring and leadership development skills to manage multi-disciplinary teams in the 21st century that is Patient Inspired and Data Driven. The AZ- TRADD training program will develop a diverse, cross-disciplinary, and translationally oriented workforce to meet the critical challenge of creating a workforce capable of advancing therapeutics to prevent, delay, and treat AD and AD related dementias.