Alzheimer's genetics and biomarkers in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese older adults
Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease (ACAD)
This project will enroll older adults of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese ancestry to collect DNA, blood biomarkers, and health information to understand Alzheimer's risk in Asian American communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11391733 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, the team will ask about my health and memory, use translated forms, and follow standard clinical and diagnostic procedures. They will collect a blood sample for DNA and plasma biomarker testing and store data for genetic analysis. The project plans to recruit about 5,081 people aged 60 or older from cities across the U.S. and Canada through community clinics and long-term care partners. Community outreach and culturally tailored approaches will be used to make participation easier for Asian American volunteers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults aged 60 or older of Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese ancestry living in the United States or Canada, whether they have memory problems or not.
Not a fit: People who are under 60, not of the targeted ancestries, looking for an experimental therapy, or expecting direct personal clinical benefit are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal genetic risks and biomarkers specific to Asian American groups that improve diagnosis, risk prediction, and guide future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Large GWAS in mainly European-ancestry groups have identified multiple Alzheimer's risk loci, but similarly large genetics and biomarker cohorts for Asian American populations are limited, so this effort is relatively new for these communities.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Li-San — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Wang, Li-San
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.