Cores
While we are one center, we divide our work into cores. The work is interrelated, but each core has a unique focus that propels us toward our mission.
Administrative Core
The Administrative Core serves as the hub for all research activities within the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. It provides strategic direction for each core, supports new research and facilitates collaboration between the cores.
Core leaders
Biomarker Core
When patients or study participants visit the center, we may ask them to give a sample by having a blood draw or a lumbar puncture. The Biomarker Core collects, stores and shares these samples. It also creates biomarker data sets to understand differences and improve diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Core leaders
Clinical Core
The Clinical Core manages the center's clinical research studies. In these studies, the core tracks both people with memory-related diseases and conditions and people without these illnesses. The Clinical Core helps advance the understanding of dementia and normal aging through the participation of research volunteers.
Core leaders
Data Management and Biostatistics Core
The Data Management and Biostatistics Core designs and manages the center's databases and tissue banks. It also supports the center's other cores by providing consultation and guidance on statistical collection and analysis.
Core leaders
Digital Innovation Core
The Digital Innovation Core facilitates the integration of digital health technologies for various purposes, such as digitized acquisition and quantitative analysis of images, pathology, cognitive tests, and motion and speech analysis.
Core leaders
Genomics Core
The Genomics Core oversees the essential functions of genomics sample management and multi-omics data generation. It integrates samples and data with exposome variables and facilitates widespread data sharing to support the goals of the center and the broader Alzheimer's and dementia research community.
Core leaders
Neuroimaging Core
The Neuroimaging Core helps diagnose and track Alzheimer's disease and other dementias by providing brain scan data for research projects and clinical trials in the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Core members accomplish this via a brain-imaging program at Mayo Clinic's campuses in Jacksonville, Florida, and Rochester, Minnesota. The core also recruits African American participants from the Florida campus to help ensure that the center's brain-imaging studies include everyone fairly.
Core leaders
Neuropathology Core
Examining a person's brain after death is the best way to confirm a diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The Neuropathology Core manages the brain donation process for the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The core also facilitates research on donated brain tissues to advance the understanding of aging and dementia.
Core leaders
Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core
The Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core is the center's community engagement arm. It provides the public with education and information about topics such as risk factors, getting a diagnosis, managing disease, and family and caregiving support. Research into improving well-being for people impacted by Alzheimer's disease or other dementias is a major focus of this core.
The core makes educational and support opportunities available in both Rochester, Minnesota, and Jacksonville, Florida. But it focuses on serving each location's unique population needs. The Jacksonville campus focuses more on the needs of African American populations, while researchers at the Rochester campus have a particular focus on rural outreach and recruitment.
Core leaders
Research Education Component
The Research Education Component provides education and training opportunities with the goal of expanding the team of scientists studying healthy brain aging, Alzheimer's disease and dementias at Mayo Clinic and around the world. The component also optimizes and refines methods for selecting, educating and mentoring trainees at multiple education and career levels.
Component leaders