BrightFocus Alzheimer s Fast Track Co-chairs: Frank LaFerla, PhD Cynthia Lemere, PhD Harry W. M. Steinbusch, PhD October 31 - November 2, 2018 Catamaran Resort Hotel, San Diego, CA www.brightfocus.org/alzworkshop #AlzFastTrack
Alzheimer s Disease Research Macular Degeneration Research National Glaucoma Research WELCOME TO THE BRIGHTFOCUS ALZHEIMER S FAST TRACK 2018 WORKSHOP! As a longtime supporter of early-career scientists, BrightFocus Foundation is proud to organize and sponsor this immersive opportunity for emerging researchers to learn from, and interact with, leaders in this field. We are especially excited that this year marks over ten years of BrightFocus dedication to providing this incredible resource for the entire Alzheimer s disease and related dementia research community. At BrightFocus, our mission is clear: harness the power of science to end the conditions we fear most loss of sight and loss of mind. Through our support of research on Alzheimer s, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, we serve as an umbrella for scientific innovation in neurodegenerative disease research, uniquely positioned for experts to share discoveries about one disease to inform another. Thank you for joining us this week I look forward to meeting every one of you. I hope that your time at Alzheimer s Fast Track is meaningful and rewarding, accelerating your path toward scientific discovery. Please remember that your journey doesn t stop at the end of this workshop. As alumni of the BrightFocus Alzheimer s Fast Track, please keep in touch with each other and with BrightFocus. We hope this experience sparks collaboration for years to come. Sincerely, Diane Bovenkamp, PhD Vice President of Scientific Affairs 2
Table of Contents Workshop Schedule and Program... 4 Social Media... 4 About the Co-Chairs and Speakers... 12 About the BrightFocus Staff... 23 About the Students... 26 Notes... 81 Index... 83 BrightFocus is the world s premier source of funding and support for research into Alzheimer s, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. We seek to find the cures for the devastating conditions we all fear most: loss of sight and loss of mind. We fund cutting-edge ideas from scientists all over the world who are dedicated to making groundbreaking discoveries. Since our beginning, we have invested nearly $200 million in bold, innovative scientific research. International Grants Available. Apply today: www.brightfocus.org/grants 1-800-437-2423. 3
Workshop Schedule and Program Workshop Goals The Alzheimer's disease research field continues to grow in size and scope. For people entering such a prolific environment, acquiring an initial understanding of the disease becomes more difficult each year. The goal of this workshop is to offer graduate students and postdocs an immersive opportunity to learn and discuss some of the latest trends in Alzheimer's disease research through close interaction with established leaders in the field. By the end of this workshop, participants will have: Connected with preeminent Alzheimer's disease experts and fellow early-stage researchers based in the U.S. and around the world Participated in interactive workgroups and breakout sessions Engaged in scientific debates Competed with fellow participants in group "mock" grant proposal presentations Workshop Organizing Sponsor BrightFocus Foundation Diane Bovenkamp, PhD, Vice President of Scientific Affairs Keith Whitaker, PhD, Director of Scientific Programs, Neuroscience Preeti Subramanian PhD, Director of Scientific Programs, Vision Science Kara Summers, Scientific Program Grants Manager Rachel Jacobs, Communications Coordinator Martha Taggart, Health and Science Writer www.brightfocus.org/alzworkshop Additional thanks to co-chairs Frank LaFerla, PhD, Cynthia Lemere, PhD, and Harry W. M. Steinbusch, PhD, for their advice and leadership in the planning of the workshop and speaker invitations. BrightFocus Alzheimer s Fast Track is an official satellite event of the Society for Neuroscience 2018 Conference Social Media #AlzFastTrack Help generate some buzz around BrightFocus Alzheimer s Fast Track by telling us about your research projects. Please prepare one or two descriptions of your work in 280 characters or less using the #AlzFastTrack hashtag. The hashtag for the Society for Neuroscience is: #SfN18 Please post your messages directly to Twitter, or email them to Rachel Jacobs, rjacobs@brightfocus.org. 4
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 19:00-21:00 Boardroom Foyer/ Boardroom Registration and Reception Wednesday, October 31, 2018 07:00-08:00 Rousseau East & West 08:00-08:30 Boardroom EARLY MORNING Breakfast Introduction to BrightFocus Alzheimer's Fast Track Diane Bovenkamp, PhD BrightFocus Foundation 08:30-09:00 Alzheimer s Disease Clinical Perspective and Precision Medicine Howard Federoff, MD, PhD 09:00-09:30 Predictive Biomarkers for Dementia in Down Syndrome Elizabeth Head, PhD University of Kentucky 09:30-10:00 Epigenetic and Brainstem Dysregulation in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease 10:00-10:30 Group Discussion Moderated by 10:30-10:45 Boardroom Foyer Coffee Break LATE MORNING 5
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 (continued...) 10:45-11:15 How To Craft A Successful Grant Application Diane Bovenkamp, PhD BrightFocus Foundation 11:15-11:45 Navigating Around Potential Pitfalls for Early-Career Investigators 11:45-12:15 How to Construct Slides That Have Impact, and Make an Impact with Your Speech and Style Bri McWhorter Activate to Captivate 12:15-12:45 Group Discussion Moderated by 12:45-13:45 Beach (weather back up Rousseau East & West) AFTERNOON Lunch 13:45-15:30 Elevator Pitch /Ice-Breaker (1 minute, see page 10 guidelines) Diane Bovenkamp, PhD BrightFocus Foundation 15:30-18:30 Rousseau East & West and Boardroom Workgroup Mock Grant Proposal Assignment Introduction and Initial Breakout Session (See pages 10-11 for guidelines) 19:00 Rousseau Center Dinner (Halloween-themed) Thursday, November 1, 2018 07:00-08:00 Rousseau East & West Breakfast Wear your BrightFocus Alzheimer's Fast Track T-shirt EARLY MORNING 08:00-08:30 Boardroom 6 Is it Feasible to One Day Prevent Alzheimer's Disease? Paul Stephen Aisen, MD Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California
Thursday, November 1, 2018 (continued...) 08:30-09:00 Evidence-Based Research on Exercise and Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease and Related Dementias 09:00-09:30 Yoga, Meditation, and Stress Reduction Influences for Alzheimer s Disease Risk James Hicks, PhD Professor Dr. Trichur R. Raju National Institute of Mental Health Neuroscience, Bangalore, India 09:30-10:00 ipsc and Epigenetics Li-Huei Tsai, PhD Massachusetts Institute of Technology 10:00-10:20 Group Discussion Moderated by 10:20-10:35 Boardroom Foyer LATE MORNING Coffee Break 10:35-11:05 General Overview of AD Models 11:05-11:35 MODEL-AD Bruce T. Lamb, PhD Indiana University 11:35-12:05 Defining how early is early in AD: Tau-related degeneration of brainstem and hypothalamic nuclei 12:05-12:35 Sex Differences in Onset of Prodromal Phase of Alzheimer s Disease Lea T. Grinberg, MD, PhD University of California, San Francisco Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD The University of Arizona Health Sciences 12:35-12:55 Group Discussion Moderated by 12:55-13:40 Beach South Lunch 7
Thursday, November 1, 2018 (continued...) AFTERNOON 13:40-14:10 Conformational Diversity of Amyloid in Alzheimer s Disease Charles Glabe, PhD 14:10-14:40 Tau: Structure, Aggregation, and Interaction Partners Prof. Dr. Eckhard Mandelkow DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases 14:40-15:10 Tau: Animal Models, Modes of Toxicity, and Therapeutic Approaches Dr. Eva-Maria Mandelkow, DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases 15:10-15:40 Modelling Abeta Toxicity: All Models are Bad but Some Can Be Useful 15:40-16:00 Group Discussion Moderated by Edward H. Koo, MD University of California, San Diego 16:00-16:15 Boardroom Foyer/ Beach 16:15-18:30 Rousseau East & West, Boardroom Coffee Break Group Photograph Taken at 16:00 Second Workgroup Breakout Session Speakers will be available to talk with students 19:00 Social Event: Dinner On The Beach Friday, November 2, 2018 07:00-08:00 Rousseau East & West Breakfast MORNING 8
Friday, November 2, 2018 (continued...) 08:00-09:00 Boardroom Panel discussion: The Pursuit of and Planning For Research-Related Careers and Non-Traditional Funding Streams and Research Opportunities Diane Bovenkamp, PhD BrightFocus Foundation Edward H. Koo, MD University of California, San Diego Brigham and Women's Hospital Bri McWhorter Activate to Captivate 09:00-09:30 Challenges in Alzheimer s Disease Clinical Trials Joshua Grill, PhD 09:30-10:00 Biomarkers for Alzheimer s Disease Michael Yassa, PhD 10:00-10:30 Innate Immunity in AD, Human and Mouse Blood Samples, Big Data Elizabeth M. Bradshaw, PhD Columbia University 10:30-11:00 The Promise of CRISPR/CAS for Alzheimer s Disease Dr. Subhojit Roy, MD, PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison 11:00-11:30 Group Discussion Moderated by 11:30-11:45 Boardroom Foyer Coffee Break 11:45-12:15 Free time for student groups to huddle before their afternoon presentations. 12:15-13:15 Beach, Rousseau East & West (weather back up) Lunch 13:15-17:30 The participant work groups will present their innovative mock grant proposals to the group, for discussion, and feedback on the viability of their research ideas in today s funding climate. The proposals will be scored and the best proposal will receive mock funding support. 17:30-17:45 Closing Remarks Meeting Organizers and Sponsors 9
Participant Elevator Pitch /Ice-Breaker Guidelines All participants will give their pitch one after the other on the afternoon of the first day of the workshop, at the time indicated in the program. Each participant will have one (1) minute maximum (moderator will have a stopwatch!) to give your verbal pitch. There are no slides permitted. Please state your name, institution/program, and state What compels you to pursue Alzheimer s disease research? or another topic you feel relevant to share with the group. Participant Group Assignments: Mock Grant Proposal Presentation Each assigned group will prepare an innovative research proposal plan (seven groups, with eight people and one team-generated proposal per group). Your presentations should include the following information: Description of the research question and hypothesis Background and significance Specific aims/benchmark achievements Experimental design/methodologies Preliminary studies/expected results Innovative aspects of proposed research Relevance of proposed research to Alzheimer's and related dementias Detailed budget and justification/facilities and environment/key personnel Your group will make a 15 minute presentation with a maximum of 12 slides, followed by 10 minutes of questions from the judging panel composed of the BrightFocus Alzheimer s Fast Track workshop presenters and experts. Only one of the seven proposals will successfully receive mock funding, after deliberation by judges. Assignment Request For Proposals Grant proposals for innovative projects to the BrightFocus Alzheimer s Fast Track Award program* should be for a maximum of $300,000 USD for a term of 3 years (maximum $100,000 per year).* (*Legal disclaimer: this is a hypothetical awarding of funds from a hypothetical program.) Please feel free to visit BrightFocus website (including the Guidelines for Applicants and FAQs pages) for background information and guidance on what is included in a typical application to BrightFocus (https://www.brightfocus.org/grants/frequently-askedquestions), if you feel this will help to answer any questions that may arise in your group. 10
Research Topics One topic per group, to be assigned before the workshop Tips: 1. Predictive biomarkers (blood-based, imaging, etc) 2. Sex-based differences 3. Evidence-based preventions/risk-lowering practices (exercise, nutrition, microbiome, etc.) 4. Inflammation and immune system 5. Protein aggregation, seeding and spreading 6. Vascular Contributions 7. Synaptic Biology and Neuroplasticity Identify and clarify an urgent problem or issue in basic, translational, and/or clinical research feel free to discuss options with workshop speakers Design an innovative study Identify a clear research question and formulate a clear and testable hypothesis Describe the specific aims, methodology, timing, budget, key personnel, etc. Show/describe the feasibility of the study Describe the relevance for the field (e.g., how does it help patients in the near future?) Let your imagination go wild! Each person should be prepared to answer questions from the judges on the spot about your group application, like you all are part of the Key Personnel on the Award 11