International Engagement in Alzheimer`s Disease Research

International Engagement in
Alzheimer’s Disease Research
William H. Thies, Ph.D.
Chief Medical and Scientific Officer
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Alzheimer’s Association as global
leader in Alzheimer research.
Amyloid Imaging
Taskforce (AIT)
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Largest Private Funder of Alzheimer's
Research in the World
• Over $300 million to more than 2,100 scientific
investigations since 1982
• Currently, nearly 400 on-going research projects in 20
countries funded by the Alzheimer’s Association
• 2012: 922 applications; over 70 research awards to 12
countries, ~$12.2M
• Community of 5,500 active peer-review volunteer scientists
from nearly 60 countries
• Fund broad spectrum of research (social-behavioral,
cognitive, functional, basic, clinical) through open or
targeted grant programs to scientists at all stages of their
career
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Convening & Connecting
Scientists Around the Globe
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AAIC 2012
• Premiere conference in Alzheimer’s disease
• Vancouver 2012: over 4,300 scientists; 65 countries
• Highlights from 2012:
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Risk and risk management of Alzheimer’s
Possible early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease
Therapy development advances
Possible prevention of Alzheimer’s
International Society to Advance Alzheimer
Research and Treatment
• Professional society for individuals
interested in Alzheimer's and dementia
science.
• Over 2,000 current members
• Benefits include:
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Annual subscription to Alzheimer's & Dementia
Online career center
Reduced conference registration rates
CME/CE discounts
Monthly e-newsletter exclusively for members
Travel grants, hotel/ travel assistance at
conferences, Car rental discounts
– Peer networking opportunities
– Professional Interest Areas (PIA)
– Volunteer opportunities for ISTAART students
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WW-ADNI: World Wide ADNI
• Administrative home for global ADNI efforts
– 3 Annual Teleconferences and Annual
Meetings at AAIC
– www.alz.org/WWADNI
• Common protocols – harmonization of data
and continuous sharing of information
• Agreement to share data and samples where
appropriate
• Funded nearly $6 million in WW-ADNI efforts
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WW-ADNI
K-ADNI
J-ADNI
E-ADNI
NA-ADNI
T-ADNI
C-ADNI
B-ADNI
ArgADNI
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A-ADNI
Global Biomarkers
Standardization Efforts
• Hippocampal volumetry
• AA CSF QC Program
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
– Materials Working Group
– Methods Working Group
• More Information:
alz.org/research/funding/global_biomarker_projects.asp
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Hippocampal Volumetry
Standardization
• $240,000 to support
international program to
standardize measurements
of hippocampus volume
• Leads: Giovanni Frisoni,
MD, (Italy) and Cliff Jack,
MD (US)
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Alzhiemer’s Association Quality Control Program
for CSF biomarkers (ELISA, xMAP, MSD)
$1 million
2009-2012
8 rounds of samples (3 samples in each round)
79 laboratories (23 countries)
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Global Biomarker Standardization
IRMM PROJECT
• MSD, Innogenetics, Saladax Biomedical,
OCD and Roche Diagnostics
• IRMM, one of 7institutes of the Joint
Research Centre of the European
Commission, has made a formal decision
to assist in the development of reference
materials for CSF Aβ42.
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Global Biomarker Standardization
IRMM PROJECT
• GBSC working group in May of 2012
• Goal of developing international reference materials
for CSF AD biomarkers and to establish reference
methods.
• IRMM will supervise the projects and perform
feasibility analyses.
• Best candidate methods and materials will be
submitted to IFCC for certification.
• Certified reference materials will undergo large
scale production by IRMM who will store and
provide the material to assay manufacturers.
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CADRO/ IADRP
 CADRO (Common Alzheimer Disease Research
Ontology): collaborative effort between the National
Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Alzheimer’s Association
(AA).
 Unified classification system to enable comparative
analysis of research portfolios, strategic planning, and
coordination by federal and non-federal agencies
supporting AD research in the United States and
internationally.
 IADRP: International Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Portfolio including international funders that support AD
research
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Common Alzheimer’s Disease
Research Ontology (CADRO)
 Three-tier classification system
 Seven categories: five research and two research resourcesrelated:
 Category A – Molecular Pathogenesis and Physiology of
Alzheimer’s Disease
 Category B – Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring
 Category C – Translational Research and Clinical Interventions
 Category D – Epidemiology
 Category E – Care, Support and Health Economics of Alzheimer’s
Disease
 Category F – Resources for the research community
 Category G – Consortia and Public Private Partnerships
 Second and third tiers further divided into “topics” and “themes”.
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IADRP (International Alzheimer's
Disease Research Portfolio
• IADRP database- developed and housed on NIA
website
• http://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dn/internationalalzheimers-disease-research-portfolio
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http://www.aibl.
csiro.au/rasad
2012/
Funded $100,000
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International Regulatory
Efforts
• Biomarker qualification
– Volumetric MRI hippocampal project
– AA CSF QC program
– IRMM project
• Working with FDA and EMA
• Advisory Panels for EMA
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Global Alzheimer’s Association
Interactive Network (GAAIN)
• Open Access
– Growing trend in science
– Provides an incredible return on
investment for funded research
• Unprecedented database
– Provide researchers worldwide with free-ofcharge access to a vast repository of data
• Sophisticated analytical tools; massive
computational power to ask complex
questions
• $5 million
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alz.org
Lead Funder of the DIAN-TU
• $4.2M grant to DIAN-TU
– International studies in the US, UK and Australia
– Expansion of DIAN database
– Three simultaneous trials to test potential therapies:
• Gantenerumab (Roche, Monoclonal antibody to AB)
• LY2886721 (Lilly, Beta Secreatse inhibitor)
• Solaneuzumab (Lilly, Monoclonal antibody to AB)
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