Brain and tissue donation and pathology resource for Alzheimer's and related dementias
Neuropathology Core
This program collects and shares donated brain, spinal fluid, blood, and eye tissue from people with and without Alzheimer's to help scientists learn what causes dementia and how to find better tests and treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P30 center grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139626 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one agree to postmortem donation, the Core collects and stores high-quality brain, blood, CSF, and eye tissue linked to medical and cognitive records. The Core runs expert pathology exams, prepares samples for modern 'omics' studies, and makes well-annotated specimens available to approved researchers. They also track specimen use, report findings, and provide diagnostic training to ensure consistent results across studies. Overall, the Core supports many Alzheimer's and related dementia projects across the Duke and UNC centers by providing vital tissue and data.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people enrolled in the Duke/UNC ADRC or older adults with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia who are willing to consent to postmortem tissue donation and share their clinical records.
Not a fit: People who cannot or will not consent to postmortem donation, or who expect direct clinical treatment from this program, will not receive personal medical benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: By providing well-documented brain and fluid samples, this resource could speed discovery of disease causes, biomarkers, and targets for new treatments for Alzheimer's and related dementias.
How similar studies have performed: Other Alzheimer's neuropathology cores have successfully supplied tissue that led to major discoveries about disease mechanisms and biomarkers, so this builds on an established model.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Shih-Hsiu Jerry — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Shih-Hsiu Jerry
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.