Research Education Component

REVISED SUMMARY/ABSTRACT - RESEARCH EDUCATION COMPONENT (REC) The Arizona ADRC REC training program addresses goals and objectives of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NACA) "To prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) by 2025.” It is aligned with NIH AD and ADRD Research Summit recommendations, the ADRC's overarching theme (blood- based biomarkers (“BBBs) in the diagnosis, preclinical study and prevention of AD/ADRD, its aggressively collaborative model, and our commitment to help develop the next generation of AD/ADRD researchers, including those from diverse backgrounds. We propose a personalized strategy to engage and advance junior faculty and research associates to conduct innovative integrative AD/ADRD research that is clinically relevant, translationally valid, scientifically reproducible and includes under-represented groups. To address gaps in academic training, the AZ ADRC REC will advance the development of skills necessary to achieve success in 21st century team science, leadership, personnel and financial management and collaborative ethical research; further develop and apply their expertise and skills in the fight against AD and ADRD; and capitalize on our programs and Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) partnerships to advance research careers and studies involving persons from Hispanic, Native American and other under-represented communities. To build the pipeline of future AD/ ADRD researchers, we propose an experience dependent mentorship strategy in which the AZ ADRC REC complements NIH / NIA training programs for postdoctoral, predoctoral and undergraduate research fellows.

Strategies to achieve these goals include: Specific Aim 1: Personalized AD/ADRD Research Career Plan for 21st Century Team Science; Specific Aim 2: Leadership and Ethics at the Rate of Change in the 21st Century and Specific Aim 3: Building the Alzheimer's Research Career Pipeline for the Future. Outcomes of these endeavors will advance the overall ADRC goals articulated in the NIH/NIA Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers RFA-AG-20-004 including: • “Create a dynamic educational environment that supports disruptive and transformative research. • Accelerate translational research across the spectrum of disease. • Demonstrate scientifically productive interactions across NIH and other Federal Center programs. • Provide a mechanism for data science education relevant to neurodegenerative disease research. • Facilitate career development to increase leadership positions within the Center. • Education and outreach activities aligned with Clinical Core for recruitment of diverse populations.”

Grant Number: 5P30AG072980-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: ROBERTA BRINTON