MADC Research

Led by Henry Paulson, MD, PhD, and Bruno Giordani, PhD, the Administrative Core is responsible for developing and implementing structural improvements within our center, as well as managing staffing, finances, and research-related resources. This core plays a crucial role in providing administrative support for the numerous research studies and programs we conduct.

The Biomarker Core, housed at Michigan State University’s Grand Rapids campus, is led by Nicholas Kanaan, PhD (Lead), and David Morgan, PhD (Co-Lead). It focuses on providing measurements of established blood-based biomarkers for identifying Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Another aim of the Biomarker Core is to develop and implement new biomarker measurements using novel biomarker antibodies that facilitate disease diagnosis and risk prediction. The Biomarker Core also is leveraging existing interests and ongoing projects with collaborators within and outside of the Michigan ADRC to facilitate biomarker analyses that extend beyond amyloid and include multiple types of dementia. 

The Clinical Core forms the backbone of the Michigan ADRC and plays a crucial role in evaluating and diagnosing research participants. The core supports a range of observational and interventional studies, especially both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment trials. The Clinical Core is central for acquiring data tied to the U-M Memory and Aging Project (UM-MAP), which currently follows several hundred participants on an annual basis. Drs. Benjamin M. Hampstead and Judith Heidebrink co-lead the Clinical Core and are eager to support and create new opportunities for innovative and cutting-edge human subject research. 

The Data Management and Statistical Core, led by Kelly Bakulski, PhD, helps maintain our center's academic and research productivity by integrating and disseminating data to our research investigators. The data core manages our data privacy, analyzes our data for specific research projects, and facilitates data sharing nationally with the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. For example, some recent research analysis projects include handling missing data in multidimensional longitudinal studies, machine learning techniques to improve clinical diagnostic classification using biomarker data, and participant management process development and optimization for research studies employing personal health information.

The Neuroimaging Core, led by Douglas Noll, PhD, and Benjamin Hampstead, PhD, utilizes cutting-edge MRI and PET imaging techniques to support research on the transitions from normal aging to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The core collects, processes, and shares high-quality imaging data, including markers of neurovascular health, amyloid plaque burden, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and neurodegeneration. It collaborates with investigators nationwide, offering expertise in imaging protocol development, data quality assurance, and advanced analyses. Additionally, the core is exploring novel imaging markers to enhance our understanding of cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disorders.

The Neuropathology Core facilitates our brain donation program. Andrew Lieberman, MD, PhD, serves as lead, with Kyle Conway, MD, JD and Emile Pinarbasi, MD, PhD, as co-investigators at the University of Michigan and Scott Counts, PhD, as co-investigator at Michigan State University. They work in partnership with the University of Michigan Brain Bank, directed by Sami Barmada, MD, PhD, to provide autopsy services to participating families at death and store and disseminate brain tissue resources to investigators nationwide.

The Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement (ORE) Core leads education and outreach efforts across the state, implemented by an interdisciplinary team across three universities. This core, led by Scott Roberts, PhD and Annalise Rahman-Filipiak, PhD, helps maintain successful relationships with community partners, including patients and participants, families, and a variety of professional and lay community organizations (e.g., the Alzheimer’s Association, Michigan Dementia Coalition). The ORE Core promotes community education, support, and empowerment around topics critical to older adults, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, caregiving, and mental health. As part of these efforts, the ORE Core provides a variety of wellness programs and support groups to those living with cognitive impairment, and their loved ones. The ORE Core also conducts recruitment science – the data-driven investigation of how best to recruit and retain diverse participants in aging research. As part of these efforts, ORE Core investigators are interested in providing research participants with access to their individual research results that hold clinical significance (e.g., results from neuropsychological or biomarker testing) and understanding the psychological and behavioral impact of disclosing such results.  

Led by Ana Daugherty, PhD of Wayne State University and co-led by Catherine Kaczorowski, PhD of the University of Michigan, Peter Lichtenberg, PhD, ABPP of Wayne State University, and Irving Vega, PhD of Michigan State University, the Research Education Component is dedicated to supporting the next generation of dementia researchers. This component provides resources that support career development in interdisciplinary dementia research and enhanced mentoring and education events to support junior investigators.