Core C: Data Management and Statistical Core

ABSTRACT – CORE C: DATA MANAGEMENT AND STATISTICAL CORE
Research on prevention and treatment of heterogeneous Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD)
requires knowledge and information that varies by domain, scale and time. Thus, meeting the challenge of
ADRD necessitates big data integrated across disciplines, shared data and collaboration across the Michigan
Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (MADRC) and the entire ADRC network, deployment of appropriate
statistical models, and training of scientists in data methods and statistics. The MADRC Data Management and
Statistical Core (DMSC) will continue to meet these critical needs as it oversees data and statistical analyses
for the MADRC. Data types include clinical/neuropsychological measures, participant recruitment/engagement
metrics, genetics, neuropathologic measures, neuroimaging, and biomarker data that will be integrated by the
DMSC. The DMSC will continue to ensure that the data meet enhanced Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance and National Institute Standards and Technology (NIST) safeguards,
IRB compliance and data security. The DMSC works closely with the Research Education Component (REC)
to assist, train and support junior faculty members in becoming independent investigators by providing an
enriched learning environment to increase their statistical and research skills. The overarching goals of the
DMSC are to integrate, share, and scale data through reproducible pipelines, guide data analyses, and train
investigators in these processes. Corresponding to these areas of importance, the DMSC proposes five
Specific Aims: Aim 1: Provide an automated, user friendly, integrated, and secure data collection and
management platform; Aim 2: Provide accessible, integrated, and informative big data and summary scores for
MADRC research needs; Aim 3: Share data, pipelines, and analytic expertise with NACC and related Centers;
Aim 4: Provide data analysis support and consultation at every stage of the research process; Aim 5: Provide
an enriched environment for MADRC investigators to expand their data visualization, analytical, and statistical
knowledge. The DMSC will enhance the comprehensive and state-of-the-art data generated by the MADRC
Cores by informing streamlined data collection and data integration across Cores, our three institutions, and
with the NACC. In the initial funding period, we succeeded in building a reproducible database platform that
combined historic cohort information with new longitudinal participant information. We will expand our activities
to support two new Cores (Biomarker and Neuroimaging) and we will support new and ongoing research
operations. DMSC activities will enhance research collaboration and analytic training across the community of
ADRD researchers. With our highly experienced team, the DMSC is exceptionally well-equipped to ensure that
the MADRC makes seminal contributions to innovative research, outreach, and training across the region and
nationally.

Grant Number: 5P30AG072931-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Kelly Bakulski