Training in Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

MISSION and HISTORY

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) or frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are a significant and expanding public health problem in our rapidly aging society in the United States and across the globe. AD is the most prevalent of these diseases, affecting an estimated 5.2 million Americans in 2016, and this number is expected to rise to 12.7 million by 2050 as the population continues to age. Another nearly 1 million Americans have PD, 50-60,000 have FTD, and 30,000 have ALS. Importantly, minimal treatments exist to slow or stop the progression of these diseases. Thus, there is an enormous need for well-trained scientists and physician-scientists to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms that underlie these diseases with the aim of developing new disease-modifying therapies and better disease diagnostics. 

Funded since 1997, our training program (T32 AG000255) currently consists of a highly select group of 31 trainers, as well as an executive committee offering support and advice to the Director and Co-Director. In the last 15 years, this training grant has trained 71 individuals, working in the laboratories of 42 different trainers. Among these 71 individuals, 46 had finished postdoctoral training as of 2022. Their outcomes are summarized below. We are very proud of our trainees!

 

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