Cohen, Ann D PHD

This new R25 program, responsive to PAR-22-195, plays a crucial role in the INCLUDE project (Investigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE). Each year, we recruit,train, mentor, and provide career advice to a cohort of 16 post-graduate participants dedicated to mastering Down syndrome (DS) clinical research. Despite the swift growth of INCLUDE, there are still too few laboratories led by Down syndrome expert scientists and too few new clinical trainees with expertise in Down Syndrome. In full compliance with NOT-OD-25-090 (Notice of Civil Rights Term and Condition of Award), this program is available for all qualified American Citizens and Permanent Residents. Under the direction of multiple Principal Investigators, Ann Cohen, PhD (Pitt); Benjamin Handen, PhD (Pitt); Elizabeth Head, PhD (Irvine); Adam Resnick, MD, PhD (CHOP); Jonathan Santoro, MD (USC-Keck); and Gerald Schatten, PhD (Contact PI, Pitt), with Co-Investigator Calvin Simerly, PhD (Pitt), the ICRT initiative proposes five specific aims: I. Annual ICRT courses covering DS through the entire lifespan; II. Ongoing Mentoring; III. Fostering Intra-INCLUDE Collaborations and Partnerships; IV. Responsible Conduct for Research training to ensure full compliance with NIH and Institutional guidance, regulations and law; and V. Quantitative Independent Evaluations to track Participants’ Careers, comprehensively and longitudinally, to ensure that ICRT is a wise, effective investment. ICRT will meet and exceed the PAR’s mandate of training the next generation of DS clinical researchers, 80 additional clinical investigators, and thereby improving the quality of life and health span of those with Down syndrome.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cardiovascular disease (CaVD) are two of the most common disorders of aging, understanding the relationship between the pathologies of these two disorders is critically important. The goal of this study is to further the understanding of the relationship between AD pathology and midlife CaVD. We will utilize a group 80 participants with a wealth of existing CaVD data from the Heart Strategies Concentrating on Risk Evaluation (Heart SCORE) study, a longitudinal study that began in 2003 with 2000 participants (43% black) between the ages of 45-75 years. Our goal is to understand how CaVD and AD pathology interact to produce cognitive changes in the elderly.