Cores

The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center is organized into seven cores and an education component.

Administrative Core

The Administrative Core oversees and coordinates all research activities within the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. It also facilitates new research projects on dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Core leaders

Clinical Core

The Clinical Core assesses people with memory disorders and related conditions, as well as people of the same age and sex who have typical cognitive abilities.

Core leaders

Data Management and Biostatistics Core

The Data Management and Biostatistics Core provides statistical expertise for research and for designing and managing the center's databases and tissue banks. The core also provides statistical consultation and support for operation of the other cores.

Core leader

Neuropathology Core

The Neuropathology Core performs detailed neuropathological examinations of patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia to determine a definitive diagnosis. The core also provides a mechanism for characterizing older adults with typical cognitive abilities and provides tissue to investigators who are researching aging and dementia.

Core leaders

Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core

The Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core provides education and information about risk factors, receiving a diagnosis, disease management, and family and caregiving support, with a special focus on the needs of African American populations and patients. The core also engages in research related to improving well-being for those impacted by dementia.

A variety of educational and support opportunities are available in both Rochester, Minnesota, and Jacksonville, Florida. Visit the Conferences page to learn more.

Core leaders

Neuroimaging Core

The Neuroimaging Core provides imaging biomarker data for diagnostic classification and staging of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in Alzheimer's Disease Research Center projects and clinical trials.

This is accomplished through a harmonized multimodality neuroimaging program at Mayo Clinic's campuses in Jacksonville, Florida, and Rochester, Minnesota. This includes recruiting a cohort of African American participants from the Florida campus to enhance the racial diversity of the center's multimodality neuroimaging program.

Core leaders

Biomarker Core

The center's Biomarker Core collects, banks and distributes fluid and cellular biospecimens. It also generates biomarker data sets to address heterogeneity and improve diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Core leaders

  • Michelle M. Mielke, Ph.D.

Research Education Component

The Research Education Component is focused on expanding the team of collaborative scientific leaders conducting research on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It also optimizes and refines methods for selecting, educating and mentoring trainees at multiple education and career levels.

Component leaders