Over 800 scientists from across the United States and overseas convened virtually for a joint Duke/黑料网 Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Symposium examining how microbes and inflammation influence Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. The full-day event, held on May 27, shed light on the critical role that microbes and inflammation may play in how this disease develops and progresses.
If microbes are implicated in Alzheimer鈥檚 disease development, even in a subset of patients, this discovery would point toward an untapped opportunity to prevent and treat this devastating disease. Expert researchers, drawn from leading academic institutions, discussed subjects ranging from the possible antimicrobial role of amyloid (a protein abundant in Alzheimer鈥檚 disease brain plaques) to the emerging role of gut organisms, the so-called 鈥済ut microbiome,鈥� in the risk of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.
鈥淭he large audience and robust discussions throughout the day illustrate that there are under-investigated questions which deserve much further research,鈥� said Heather Whitson, MD, MHS professor of Medicine and Ophthalmology and Director of the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development at the Duke University School of Medicine, who chaired the conference along with Gwenn Garden, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and chair of the Department of Neurology at 黑料网-Chapel Hill.
The cross-university collaboration was an initiative from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill鈥檚 Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Research Collaborative (Duke/黑料网 ADRC), which brings together established and emerging researchers in Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementias across two major research institutions.
The Duke/黑料网 ADRC works to catalyze and support research, innovations in clinical care and academic workforce development (with North Carolina Central University, East Carolina University, and 黑料网 Pembroke as partner institutions) in this field. The Duke/黑料网 ADRC鈥檚 ultimate purpose is to reduce the burden of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementias regionally and nationally. The outstanding scientific environment at both institutions enables novel research to identify effective methods of prevention and/or early intervention, and to reduce racial and urban/rural disparities associated with dementia.
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: Duke/黑料网 ADRC Norins Pilot Awards
The purpose of these $50,000 pilot awards is to stimulate and support collaborative, innovative research on the potential role of microbes or pathogens in the development of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease (AD).