As scientists edge closer to changing the lives of people with dementia by finding ways to diagnose it earlier and treat it more effectively, a University of Florida-led research network has been awarded a $22.3 million, five-year grant to propel these discoveries into clinical practice.
The National Institute on Aging has renewed a grant for the 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, or 1Florida ADRC, which uses the newest techniques to evaluate people with and without memory disorders and other thinking problems in research studies as part of the nationwide network of Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers.
“We’ve reached a transformative time in Alzheimer’s research, where not only are we advancing potential disease-modifying therapies, but very soon it may be possible for people to go to their primary care provider and get a blood test before they even have any symptoms,” said Glenn Smith, Ph.D., a professor in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Department of Clinical and Health Psychology who co-leads the 1Florida ADRC.
“This new federal investment will enable us to continue our vital community-engaged research, which is a catalyst for state and national improvements in public health,” he said.
A collaboration of UF, Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University, the consortium also includes health systems and community partners, with a shared goal of expanding access to clinical trials and improving care across the state.