Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Cores

Leading the Administrative Core are the Directors of the Yale ADRC, Stephen M. Strittmatter, MD, PhD, and Christopher H. van Dyck, MD. The Administrative Core provides leadership and coordination and oversees all Center activities. It emphasizes the use of proteomic studies for translational science to achieve a goal of understanding the cellular basis of Alzheimer’s disease and translating this knowledge into effective therapy.

Led by Dr. Angus Nairn, PhD (Charles B.G. Murphy Professor of Psychiatry), the Biomarker Core plays a key role in the Yale ADRC by managing the Biospecimen Repository, (consisting of both standard and novel biospecimens) and through the development and application of cutting-edge proteomic, epigenetic and bioinformatics approaches to integrate high-dimensional multi-omics data. Thus, through its work the Yale ADRC Biomarker Core facilitates the development and validation of promising biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease susceptibility, improves AD risk prediction, and identifies promising directions for development of targeted interventions.

Led by Drs. Christopher H. van Dyck, MD and Adam Mecca, MD, the Clinical Core aims to perform research diagnostic evaluations for a large clinical population.

The Data Management and Statistics Core (DMSC) provides data management and statistical support to meet operational and research needs.  It interacts with other Yale ADRC Cores to manage and integrate metadata/data and provide statistical consultation on design and analysis of studies and educational and outreach program evaluation.  The DMSC created and maintains data management and biorepository systems and procedures for subject tracking, accrual, and other conduct of study reports. The Data Management and Statistics Core ensures patient data confidentiality and protection through secure, HIPAA-compliant data management systems and practices.

Human imaging studies allow for the development of imaging biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and characterization of the temporal sequence of AD pathology, and lead to better assignment of patients to clinical research studies and clinical trials. Imaging is a major strength at Yale, as exemplified by the breadth and depth offered by the Yale PET Center and the Yale Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC). In the PET Center, an example of recent, significant work is the introduction of PET synaptic imaging with the SV2A tracer ¹¹C-UCB-J. In the MRI, the Yale MRRC has generated numerous, novel methods to characterize an individual's functional connectome and relate the functional organization to behavior and clinical variables. Overall, these two Centers develop cutting-edge imaging technologies and apply these techniques to answer important questions.

The Neuropathology Core is co-led by Drs. Anita Huttner MD, Director of Neuropathology, Pathology, and Caroline Zeiss PhD, Chief of Pathology, Comparative Medicine, and fulfills multiple important roles within the Yale Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC).

The overall objective of the Yale ADRC Research Education Core (REC) is to serve as an institutional hub for all educational, didactic, and career development activities aimed at promoting future leaders that will bridge clinical and basic sciences to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life of individuals with dementing disorders.