May Newsletter

• The UW Memory and Brain Wellness Clinic at Harborview remains open for the needs of our patients, including visits by phone, video conference, or in person. If you have an upcoming appointment, you will be contacted beforehand to explore what visit format is best.
• The UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is still currently suspending in-person visits for the Clinical Core longitudinal study and most clinical trial visits. The research team is conducting telephone interviews for necessary follow ups with currently enrolled participants.  If you have questions or concerns, please email the research team at uwadrc@uw.edu or call 206-744-0588.
• MBWC Community Programs and Events are still happening virtually, while in-person programs are on hold. Join us in June online, by phone, or by video, for a variety of support, education and engagement opportunities.

 

COMMUNITY WELLNESS TALKS
1 - 1:45 p.m. every Wednesday in June. Join us for a brief presentation and Q&A on various topics related to "living well" in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. These talks are for people with memory loss, family caregivers, and the general public, and feature MBWC providers and university colleagues. 

For more information, contact Marigrace Becker, 206-744-2190, mbecker1@uw.edu. 

A virtual adaptation of our popular nature program explores local gardens and demonstrate creative art activities, tailored for people living with memory loss and care partners. This program is offered in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, with generous sponsorship from Family Resource Home Care.

The June 2020 virtual program at the Seattle Arboretum will be available June 1 on the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center's video channel. View all virtual Garden Discovery Walks.
 

A variety of local organizations are offering virtual opportunities for people with memory loss and their families to stay active and connected - online, by video, or over the phone. Here are some highlights:

Visit the ADRC Research Talks & Events Calendar for a complete listing of UW Alzheimer's disease research events and seminars.

Mon. June 1, 3:30pm: Neuro Seminar (UW Graduate Program in Neuroscience): Defining the age- and sex-related impact of chronic seizures in mice with loss of Alzheimer’s disease-associated gene, presenilin 2. 
Speaker: Dr. Melissa Barker-Haliski, Research Assistant Professor, UW Pharmacy.
Zoom Link 

Wed. June 3, 1:30 - 2:30pm: UW Pathology Grand Rounds: Resistance and Resilience to Alzheimer’s Disease: Pathology in a Community-Based Cohort.
Speaker: Dr. Caitlin Latimer, MD/PhD.
Learn More
Zoom Link
 

NIA / National Association Webinars and Presentations
 

July 2020 (Date and time TBA): the Alzheimer's Association International Conference® 2020 (AAIC®) in Amsterdam, originally scheduled for July 26-30, will transition to a complimentary virtual event! Updates available here. For specific inquiries, please contact aaic@alz.org.
 

NIA “Focus on Aging” webinar series: “Supporting Older Adults in Emergencies: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery,” held on May 13. Watch Video

Spring 2020 virtual ADRC meeting: The recording and slides are now posted on the NACC website. Director’s Meeting ADRC Network and IDEAS Trial Updates/Clinical Core Data Collection Update/Neuropathology Core Covid-19 Update/Data Core during Covid-19 Update/Inaugural Imaging Core Meeting.

 

Thurs. June 2, 12pm (PT) Alzheimer's Afternoons Seminar Series: Control of Microglial Cholesterol Metabolism by TREM2 and APOE. Organizers: Lance Johnson, PhD, University of Kentucky and Rik van der Kant, PhD, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Details and Zoom link

Thurs. June 4, 12pm (PT) Alzheimer's Afternoons Seminar Series: How Did Cognitively Healthy Centenarians Preserve Their Cognitive Health?. Findings from the 100-plus Study.
Organizers: Lance Johnson, PhD, University of Kentucky and Rik van der Kant, PhD, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Details and Zoom link

Thurs. June 4, 8am (PT) Brain's Resilience and Intelligence Networks (B.R.A.I.N.) Seminar Series: Imaging Cognitive Reserve.
Speaker: Yaakov Stern, Columbia University
Organizer: Michael Ewers, PhD, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich & German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich. 
Details and Zoom link

Updates - virtual transitions

The 8^th Annual ACT Research Symposium - Deadline for abstracts extended to June 15th: In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year's ACT Symposium will be a virtual event (Dates TBA). The theme of this year’s symposium is “Bridging population science and human biology to understand brain aging and dementia risk”. Any junior researcher (defined as assistant professor/equivalent or below – such as lecturers, post-doctoral students, graduate students, or undergraduate students) is eligible to submit an abstract or proposal. If you are planning to submit a proposal or abstract, we have extended the deadline to June 15!  Please contact ACT Proposals at KPWA.actproposals@kp.org All submissions must be submitted on this website.

The Alzheimer's Association International Conference® 2020 (AAIC®) in Amsterdam, originally scheduled for July 26-30, will transition to a complimentary virtual event! Updates available here. For specific inquiries, please contact aaic@alz.org.


Awards

Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, FGSA, Earns the Gerontological Society of America's 2020 Robert W. Kleemeier Award
The award recognizes his research contributions in the field of gerontology. Dr. Kaeberlein is a professor in the UW Department of Pathology, where he runs the Kaeberlein Lab, serves as director of the Healthy Aging and Longevity Research Institute, co-director of the Dog Aging Project, and co-director of the Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging. He has the perspective that the molecular mechanisms of aging will lead to interventions that slow the onset and progression of age-related chronic conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and others. Current projects in the Kaeberlein lab have a common theme centered on identifying the genetic and environmental factors that modulate longevity and understanding how these factors act at a molecular level. Once these factors are identified, then it will be possible to develop drugs specifically targeting the gene variant of interest. If these drugs increase life span or delay the onset of age-associated disease in animal models, they will be good candidates for human clinical trials.


New UW ADRC-Supported Publications

Zimmermann HR et al. Brain-specific repression of AMPKα1 alleviates pathophysiology in Alzheimer’s model mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2020.

Mock et al. The Utility of the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center's Database for the Rapid Assessment of Evolving Neuropathologic Conditions. Alzheimer's Disease & Associated Disorders. 2020


NIA Featured Research

• Study highlights paid caregiving gaps and needs for community-dwelling adults with dementia
• Daily low-dose aspirin does not decrease risk for dementia and cognitive decline
• Mutations in complex mitochondrial DNA sequences may impact age-related conditions and genetic diseases
• Alzheimer’s gene contributes to blood-brain barrier breakdown

Funding & Educational Opportunities

Garvey Institute Launches Innovation Grants - Letters of Intent (LOI) accepted through June 30, 2020
The Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions (GIBHS) launched its first funding opportunity for UW researchers in the form of one-year Innovation Grants up to $100K to develop innovative, new ideas that have the potential to make a substantial impact on brain health through research, education, patient care and/or advocacy and can be rapidly translated into clinical care and/or improvement. The goal of the Institute is to improve Brain Health at a population level by developing, testing and rapidly deploying innovative approaches to prevent or treat brain health problems. The Institute’s work will initially concentrate on three flagship programs: brain health and cognitive aging, addictions, and the effects of physical and/or emotional trauma on the brain.
The GIBHS is accepting Letters of Intent (LOI) through June 30, 2020. LOIs should highlight the innovative nature, the potential impact and the timeliness of the idea. The applicant may then be asked to provide additional information or address particular areas of concern in a full proposal. Complete guidelines and application materials. Questions? Email gibhs@uw.edu.


Apply: NIA IMPACT Collaboratory Accepting Applications for Pilot Awards and for Career Development Awards- The NIA IMPACT Collaboratory is excited to announce two new funding opportunities, the Pilot Grant Awards and the brand new Career Development Awards.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) Imbedded Pragmatic Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Clinical Trials (IMPACT) Collaboratory seeks to transform the delivery, quality, and outcomes of care provided to Americans living with dementia and their care partners by accelerating the testing and adoption of evidence-based interventions within healthcare systems through funding from the National Institute on Aging.


Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) Office of Small Business Research (OSBR) is interested in collaborating on an outreach opportunity to help leaders among the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers and their networks to learn more about small business funding and resources available through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The NIA OSBR provides more than $100 million annually in set-aside, non-dilutive funding, and resources to support small businesses looking to commercialize interventions, technologies, and therapeutics that can help address Alzheimer’s and other dementias increases, aging-related diseases, and the special needs of older Americans.
If you are interested in partnering on this effort or attending an upcoming ADRC—focused webinar as an individual, please contact Kiara Palmer at kiara.palmer@ogilvy.com or Melissa Glim at melissa.glim@ogilvy.com For additional information, visit OSBR’s website.


COVID-19 economic recovery research grants
 The Population Health Initiative launched a COVID-19 recovery research grant program to support the University of Washington research community in quickly responding to the vast array of economic-related challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Awards of up to $20,000 each are available. The period of performance for these awards is five months. Applications are due May 31, 2020. More information

Call for applicants for the Next Generation Leader Council at the Allen Institute for Brain Science 
The purpose of the Next Generation Leaders Council at the Allen Institute for Brain Science is to formally recognize the importance of fresh and innovative contributions from scientists at early stages of their careers. By selecting emerging leaders to participate in the Next Generation Leadership Council, we foster professional development by providing opportunities and informal training on how to serve as scientific advisors. The Next Generation Leaders gain direct experience with the model of collaborative team science embraced at the Institute, and act as Institute ambassadors with academic and industry colleagues.
Application Details
The application deadline is June 12, 2020. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact NextGen@alleninstitute.org.


Research Resources. 

NIA “Focus on Aging” webinar series: “Supporting Older Adults in Emergencies: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery,” held on May 13. Watch Video

Spring 2020 virtual ADRC meeting: The recording and slides are now posted on the NACC website. Director’s Meeting ADRC Network and IDEAS Trial Updates/Clinical Core Data Collection Update/Neuropathology Core Covid-19 Update/Data Core during Covid-19 Update/Inaugural Imaging Core Meeting.

A treasure trove of data from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study is available from the NIA AgingResearchBiobank. The NIA-supported Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study showed that a structured physical activity program reduced the risk of mobility loss and death. Now, after 7 years after the study ended, data from LIFE is available to advance the field. The availability of these samples and data presents considerable scientific and clinical opportunities for trainees, junior and senior investigators, and clinicians who can use LIFE’s biospecimens and related data to answer additional research questions that go beyond those related to maintaining independence and mobility as we age. LIFE’s impressive accomplishments shaped several U.S. and international recommendations for physical activity in older adults. Visit the AgingResearchBiobank.
 

Job Opportunities

Jobs within Alzheimer's Disease Centers, as well as jobs outside the ADCs that may be of interest to ADC trainees.

ENROLLING STUDIES
 

Cortexyme GAIN Clinical Trial

We are currently enrolling patients in the GAIN Trial, a Phase 2/3 clinical trial of COR388 in Alzheimer’s disease.  

COR388, was previously well tolerated in a Phase 1b trial in healthy subjects and patients with Alzheimer’s disease.  

The GAIN Trial (GingiPAIN inhibitor for treatment of Alzhimer’s disease) is a Phase 2/3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that is assessing the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of two dose levels of COR388 oral capsules in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.  Randomized participants enter a screening period of up to six weeks, a 48-week treatment period, and a safety follow-up period of an additional six weeks. 
 

Seattle Study Site:

Location: UW Medicine Harborview

Contact: Yeung Tutterrow: ylt2@uw.edu

See ALL enrolling Studies and Trials at the ADRC and UW partners.
*The UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is still currently suspending in-person visits for the Clinical Core longitudinal study and most clinical trial visits. The research team is conducting telephone interviews for necessary follow ups with currently enrolled participants.  If you have questions or concerns, please email the research team at uwadrc@uw.edu or call 206-744-0588.