Resources
The UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center (UCD ADC) has established a highly functional infrastructure supporting research in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The scientific effort of the program seeks to:
- Promote research directed at understanding factors that influence the expression and progression of Alzheimer’s disease Develop and maintain cohorts of carefully diagnosed and well characterized research subjects available for research studies on Alzheimer’s disease and dementiaProvide support to investigators in subject recruitment, clinical research, experimental design, and statistical analysis of data.
- Maintain a variety of samples (brain, DNA, serum) and an extensive electronic database suitable for developing new research and supporting existing programs
The Center offers the following resources for investigators:
RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH SUBJECTS STATISTICAL AND RESEARCH STUDY DESIGN CONSULTANTION
CENTER CONTACTS
FOR RESEARCH SUPPORT
Principal Investigator:
Charles DeCarli, M.D.
Telephone: (916) 734-6280
email: charles.decarli@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
For Martinez and Oakland:
Katharine Vieira RN, Clinical Nurse
(925) 372-2493
email: kevieira@ucdavis.edu
For Sacramento and San Joaquin:
Esther Lara, M.S.W., Research Coordinator (Se habla Español)
(916) 734-5496
email: ellara@ucdavis.edu
PILOT
GRANTS
The UCD ADC directly funds two pilot grants per year.
These grants provide up to $30,000 direct costs to support
preliminary research efforts that show promise for developing
into projects that could be funded by other agencies. Any
projects related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
are eligible for consideration. Investigators with principal
investigator status at UC Davis or other northern California
institutions are eligible to submit applications for pilot
grants. Instructions for applications and dates for pilot
grant submission are distributed well in advance of submission
deadlines via newsletters, e-mail, and direct mailings to
researchers and academic departments. You can obtain more
information GO
HERE.
RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH SUBJECTS
The UCD ADC maintains cohorts of patients and normal controls who are carefully diagnosed and well characterized in terms of clinical features, neuropsychological test results, and neuroimaging and laboratory studies. These individuals have expressed interest in participating in research and are available for participation in research studies. Investigators can access our pool of research subjects by submitting a brief application that summarizes the purpose of the study, describes study methods including subject inclusion and exclusion criteria, and identifies the number of subjects that are required. A Human Subjects Research Protocol approved by the Institutional Review Board of the investigator must be submitted along with the application. The UCD ADC assists in recruiting subjects for projects that have been approved by the Center Executive Committee. Our Research Coordinators contact subjects who meet eligibility criteria, describe the study, and determine if the subject is interested in participating. Names of subjects who agree to participate are passed on to investigators, who then contact the subjects and arrange for participation. The UCD ADC works with the investigators to track participation of subjects in studies. Please contact our Center or one of our Research Coordinators to obtain further information. Download Study Proposal PDF.ACCESS TO DATABASE
We maintain an extensive database on all individuals evaluated through our Center that includes systematic data on demographic characteristics, clinical features, neuropsychological test scores, and clinical diagnosis. This database also codes APOE genotype of selected subjects and pathological diagnosis of autopsied cases. Data can be accessed by investigators for research studies. Interested investigators can submit an application describing the study and the data that is being requested. Our Data Manager will prepare a dataset that meets the requirements of the investigator. Data is provided without individual identifiers to assure confidentiality of individuals in the database. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Center.Download Study Proposal PDF.
TISSUE SAMPLES
We also maintain tissue banks including brains that have been donated to our research program, and banks of DNA and serum. Investigators can access these resources by submitting an application that describes the purpose for the requested tissue and the types of tissue that is being requested. Upon approval, we will make arrangements to prepare the specimens and transfer them to the investigator. Confidentiality of UCD ADC subjects is carefully protected.Download Study Proposal PDF. & Material Transfer Request Form
STATISTICAL AND RESEARCH STUDY DESIGN CONSULTANTION
The UCD ADC has a group of core investigators who include a biostatistician and individuals with considerable expertise in research design and methodology. Researchers can obtain consultation on statistical and design issues by contacting the Center or any of the Center investigators.Download Study Proposal PDF.