Duke‑UNC Alzheimer’s Participant and Biomarker Program
Clinical Core
This program follows people ages 45–80 (plus a smaller younger group) to collect clinical exams, biomarker samples, and brain donation options to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease.
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-11139622 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would have regular clinical visits with cognitive testing, health history updates, and collection of biomarker samples such as blood and imaging; brain donation is also supported. The core will follow a longitudinal group of about 420 people (most cognitively normal at entry, with ~100 symptomatic) and perform a one-time evaluation of about 120 younger participants. The program prioritizes enrollment of rural and African American participants to better understand disparities in memory disorders. Data and samples are shared with Duke and UNC investigators working on Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 45–80 (cognitively normal or with MCI/dementia), with additional one-time enrollment for younger adults and emphasis on African American and rural participants.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment or those outside the enrollment criteria who do not want clinical visits, tests, or tissue donation are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve early detection and understanding of how aging and comorbidities influence Alzheimer’s disease, especially in underrepresented communities.
How similar studies have performed: Large cohort efforts like ADNI and other Alzheimer’s center cohorts have successfully identified biomarkers and disease patterns, though they have not yet produced a cure.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Obrien, Richard Joseph — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Obrien, Richard Joseph
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.