Our Vision: Accelerating Discovery Through Comprehensive Science

The 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (1Florida ADRC) envisions a future where Alzheimer’s and related dementias are detected at their earliest biological stages through high-quality research and data-driven clinical approaches. We serve as a national model for multi-institutional leadership, using a unified science approach to turn complex clinical and biomarker data into meaningful breakthroughs for all populations affected.

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Our partnering institutions

As a National Institute on Aging (NIA)-designated Center of Excellence, the 1Florida ADRC proudly forms part of the national Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRC) program. The 1Florida ADRC provides an essential infrastructure to support this national research priority. Together, we represent a formidable, unified research force spanning the state representing top Florida institutions including the University of Florida (UF), the University of Miami (UM), Mount Sinai Medical Center (MSMC), Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Florida International University (FIU). This partnership focuses on a team science approach to advance knowledge, improve early detection, and facilitate access to innovative treatments for AD and ADRDs.

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The 1Florida ADRC’s Key Focus Areas

The 1Florida ADRC carries out this mission through four key focus that connect long-term research with advanced patient care. By linking new discoveries in biomarkers with innovative cognitive challenge tests, training the next generation of AD/ADRD doctors and scientists, professionals and raising awareness with our community outreach programs, we make sure that new discoveries lead to more accurate diagnoses, timely treatment, and better support for patients and their families.

Scientific Research and Early Detection

Our researchers conduct innovative studies focused on the earliest stages of disease. We have developed novel methods and tools to help identify cognitive and biological changes before significant clinical symptoms affect a person’s daily life. We achieve this by using advanced tools including neuroimaging (like amyloid and tau PET scans), blood-based biomarkers (blood tests), and new cognitive challenge tests to better understand how disease risk appears early in the disease process.
Our goal is to collect and share long-term research data with scientists across the country to help advance Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia research.

Expert Clinical Assessment and Care

The 1Florida ADRC uses a team-based approach to monitor brain health through detailed clinical evaluations. Researchers at the three clinical sites conduct annual reviews using the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set to track changes in memory and thinking over time. These sessions often include new “cognitive stress tests,” such as the LASSI-L, which are designed to detect very subtle changes in memory that standard tests might overlook.

To ensure a high level of accuracy, the sites hold regular diagnostic conferences where specialists from different universities review the data together. This collaborative process allows the team to provide participants with current diagnostic insights based on a consensus of experts from across the state. These research-based evaluations are supported by federal and state funding and are provided at no cost to those involved in the studies.

Community Empowerment and Education

We are committed to empowering our community and building strong, informed partnerships. We achieve this through sharing knowledge and providing reliable, evidence-based education on brain health and the latest research findings to both the community and health professionals. In addition, we actively engage involves working closely with a broad range of communities across Florida to ensure our research is accessible to the populations most affected by AD/ADRDs.

Training Future Leaders in AD/ADRD science and clinical excellence

Our faculty is strongly committed to preparing the next generation of experts through our 1Florida AlzSTARS program. This initiative supports promising early-career scientists and clinicians by providing the resources and specialized skills needed to lead efforts against Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Our training program connects these emerging leaders with experienced mentors from across our five partner universities. By supporting these scholars today, we ensure that Florida remains at the forefront of innovative health research for years to come, building a strong group of future leaders who will improve how AD/ADRD are diagnosed and treated.

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