Fall 2025 ADRC Meeting Highlights

Directors Sessions: Network Leadership, Infrastructure, and Personalized Approaches to AD/ADRD

Building the infrastructure that makes breakthroughs possible and translating those advances into personalized care. These sessions showcased how the ADRC network is expanding capacity, enhancing resources, and driving innovation across the research spectrum.

Leaders shared updates on genetic data access through NIAGADS, NACC's new website and expanded support resources, the latest NIAP Awardee achievements, and strategic priorities positioning the network for continued impact. The second session highlighted how the future of AD/ADRD treatment is becoming increasingly personal, featuring research on diverse populations, novel diagnostics, and AI-powered drug discovery.

From the BEYONDD Study's pioneering work in underrepresented communities to computational approaches identifying new therapeutic targets, these presentations demonstrate how infrastructure, innovation, and inclusion are reshaping the future of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. See the full presentations to explore what's next in precision medicine.

NCRAD's Tremendous Growth

The numbers tell a powerful story. Dr. Tatiana Foroud showcased NCRAD's remarkable expansion in sample banking and genomic capabilities. A testament to increasing demand and our network's growing research capacity.

Scientific Sessions: Advancing Discovery Across the Network

From personalized medicine and AI-powered drug discovery to advances in neuropathology, data harmonization, and imaging infrastructure, the scientific sessions showcased innovation across AD/ADRD research. Highlights included CLARiTI's progress on enrollment, alpha-synuclein biomarkers, and MRI markers of LATE-NC, to digital histopathology aligning MRI with quantitative pathology, practical strategies for UDSv4 transitions and OMOP integration, and SCAN's expanded imaging capacity.

These presentations demonstrated how personalized medicine and network collaboration are reshaping our approach to diagnosis, care, and treatment.

ORE Core Resources for Authentic Community Partnership

Community leaders and faculty shared powerful tools and real-world strategies for building meaningful Community Advisory Board (CAB) and Patient Advisory Board (PAB) partnerships:

Aging Research Readiness Curriculum (Wayne State University)

Transform your community engagement. Dr. Carrie Leach presented this curriculum developed with and for older adults to build research literacy and empower community experts. Access the curriculum.

CAB Membership Manual (University of Washington ADRC)

Your roadmap for inclusive, systematic CAB processes that foster successful community-engaged research. Download the Manual.

Focus on Aging in Communities of Color Training (Wayne State University)

Essential training that equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to provide culturally responsive care to aging patients with disabilities from communities of color. Access the training.

Community Voices in Action

Hear directly from community partners about what works. Dr. Oanh Meyer and Mr. Dao Vu discussed how the Vietnamese CAB helps researchers truly understand the needs of Vietnamese immigrants living with dementia. Dr. Maria Quiñones-Cordero and Raquel Singletary shared insights on addressing caregiver burden in the Latino community. Dr. Tam E. Perry and Brenda F. Evans revealed what "high touch" communication really looks like in practice.

Watch the ORE Core Session to see these tools in action and hear from community partners.

REC Poster Session: Rising Stars

Congratulations to our Rising Star Award recipients from 26 exceptional presentations:

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  Dr. Cody Steely (University of Kentucky ADRC) for identifying novel genetic risk factors through genome-wide analysis of short tandem repeat expansions in Alzheimer's disease.
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  Dr. Wade Self (Washington University Knight ADRC) for examining how gut microbiota from individuals with early Alzheimer's disease affects tau pathology, providing insights into the gut-brain axis and potential therapeutic strategies.

These outstanding presentations represent the exceptional talent and innovative research advancing AD/ADRD understanding across our network.

Q&A and Panel Discussions: Join the Conversation

Q&A sessions and panel discussions throughout the meeting captured the collaborative spirit of our network. Watch the recordings to hear engaging exchanges on the pressing challenges and opportunities in AD/ADRD research today.

Have questions about NACC's Year 5 priorities, portal updates, or the new website? Download the NACC Q&A PDF for answers to attendee questions about data resources and network support.

Thank You and Next Steps

To everyone who presented, moderated, judged posters, and engaged in Q&A: Thank You! Your openness and collaboration embody our mission to accelerate Alzheimer's disease research through this network and our partnership.

Please take two minutes to complete the Fall ADRC Meeting evaluation by November 10, so we can continue improving these important gatherings.

Together, we're transforming challenges into breakthroughs. Network collaboration turns complex questions into shared solutions.