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Mission
The mission of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR) is to promote and conduct multidisciplinary clinical and basic research to increase the understanding of the causes and mechanisms leading to brain dysfunction and degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), Motor neuron disease (MND), and related disorders that occur increasingly with advancing age. Implicit in the mission of the CNDR are two overarching goals: 1.) Find better ways to cure and treat these disorders, 2. Provide training to the next generation of scientists.
“My goal for CNDR is not only to collaborate with researchers at Penn and from institutions across the globe with the mutual goal of finding better ways to diagnose and treat neurodegenerative diseases, but also to inspire and encourage the next generation of scientists on the importance of investigating these disorders that occur more frequently with advancing age.” – Virginia M.-Y. Lee, PhD, Director, CNDR
John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD | 1946 - 2022
In loving memory of John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD
Latest Research
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Genome-wide association studies of TDP-43 proteinopathy and hippocampal sclerosis reveal shared genetic associations with APOE and TMEM106B
Monday, November 10, 2025
INTRODUCTION: Transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) proteinopathy has been linked to cognitive decline and often co-occurs with hippocampal sclerosis (HS). To identify genetic markers of TDP-43 proteinopathy and HS, we performed genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of HS and TDP-43 inclusions.
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The Consortium for Clarity in ADRD Research Through Imaging (CLARiTI): Overview of consortium sites and anticipated enrollment
Monday, November 10, 2025
INTRODUCTION: The Consortium for Clarity in Alzheimer's disease related dementias (ADRD) Research Through Imaging (CLARiTI) is a study that aims to collect standardized imaging and plasma biomarkers on 2000 Clinical Core participants enrolled across all Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRC) sites. We sought to summarize the known heterogeneity across centers regarding scientific focus and initial enrollment plans for CLARiTI.
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Efficacy of acupuncture for Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Monday, November 10, 2025
BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) is one of the primary non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD-MCI represents an early stage of cognitive impairment in PD and serves as a potential precursor to PDD. To date, research on the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in PD remains limited. Acupuncture, a classical therapeutic modality in Traditional Chinese Medicine, exhibits superior therapeutic outcomes to pharmacotherapy for mild cognitive...