The Alzheimer's Research Podcast

How ATRI’s Participant Support Center is Transforming Alzheimer’s Communication with Belinda J. Gonzalez and Dr. Mindy Aisen

As more people gain access to Alzheimer’s diagnoses and more people want to learn about Alzheimer’s risk and prevention, ATRI is looking for creative ways to engage with the broader public. In this episode, Dr. Mindy Aisen and Belinda J. Gonzalez join the podcast to discuss one of those initiatives — the ATRI Participant Support Center. Belinda and Dr. Mindy explain how this new call center team is making it easier for both participants and the general public to get their questions answered, and they share some examples of how these conversations are impacting ATRI’s approach to research and patient communication. Episode Recap: * In this episode, we’re talking with Dr. Mindy Aisen and Belinda J. Gonzalez (0:41) * What is the Participant Support Center, and why did you decide to create it? (2:09) * What kinds of questions are you answering most often at the call center? (7:42) * What makes a good support person for the call center? (13:59) * How have your past experiences prepared you for this role? (17:36) * What do you wish potential participants knew about the research process? (26:23) * What are your hopes for the future of ATRI and Alzheimer’s research? (31:46) Learn more about ATRI [https://atri.usc.edu/]

The Role of Neuropsychology in Advancing Alzheimer’s Research with Cecily Jenkins, PhD

As ATRI’s Director of Neuropsychology, Dr. Cecily Jenkins is making important progress toward earlier identification and intervention for Alzheimer’s Disease. In this episode, Dr. Jenkins joins the podcast to explain what neuropsychology is and why it’s such an essential part of ATRI’s work. She also shares an inside look at the work her team is doing to standardize clinical trials across many locations and researchers, and she discusses some important innovations and discoveries that have shifted our approach to Alzheimer's research over the past few decades. Episode Recap: * In this episode, we’re talking with Dr. Cecily Jenkins, director of neuropsychology at ATRI (0:41) * What is neuropsychology, and how did you get interested in it? (2:23) * How has the field of neuropsychology evolved in recent years? (6:26) * What do you wish people knew about the research process? (10:54) * What changes are you and your team making to the research process? (12:42) * Why is biomarker evidence the most important development of the last 10 years? (19:10) * What are you most proud of from your time at ATRI? (22:02) * What is your hope for the future of Alzheimer’s research? (24:44) * Why is data standardization so important, and what are you doing to support it? (27:56) * How can people get involved? (33:15) Learn more about ATRI [https://atri.usc.edu/] Learn about the APT Webstudy  [https://www.aptwebstudy.org/]

Partnering with Research Participants for More Inclusive Alzheimer’s Research with Sarah Walter

Sarah Walter, MSc knows that participant feedback is vital for effective Alzheimer’s research. As program administrator for the ACTC and ATRI, Sarah has done important work to foster collaboration both within the community and with external partners. In this episode, Sarah joins the podcast to explain why it’s so important to involve participants in the research process. She also discusses some key shifts that can help make Alzheimer’s trials more accessible to diverse populations, and she shares a few success stories of implementing participant feedback. Episode Recap: * In this episode, we’re talking with Sarah Walter, program administrator for ACTC and ATRI. (0:41) * Can you tell us about your role at ATRI and explain how you got here? (2:40) * How did you start the process of getting more people involved in your research? (7:24) * What has changed since you started involving research participants? (12:27) * How can we make research more accessible, and why is that so important? (18:06) * What are you working toward next? (22:55) * What key shifts have helped make research more approachable for participants? (24:19) * How can people get involved and share their feedback? (28:27) Learn more about ATRI [https://atri.usc.edu/]

The Earliest Clues: How Genetic Populations Illuminate the Path to Alzheimer’s Prevention

Whether he’s leading a clinical trial or advising film and television writers on accurate portrayals of Alzheimer’s, Dr. Michael Rafii knows that clear, accessible communication matters. In this episode, Dr. Rafii joins the podcast to discuss his work as Medical Director of ATRI and Director of the Medical Safety Unit of ACTC. He shares a fascinating overview of his clinical research around developing new treatments for a genetic form of Alzheimer’s in people with Down syndrome and explains how Alzheimer’s research has evolved throughout his career. Dr. Rafii also discusses his approach to communicating complex medical topics in a way that’s clear and easy to understand. Episode Recap: * In this episode, we’re talking with ATRI Medical Director Dr. Michael Rafii (0:41) * Can you tell us about your role at ATRI and the work you’re doing with Alzheimer’s clinical trials? (1:40)  * How did you get involved with Alzheimer’s research, and how has it evolved? (4:29) * Can you tell us about your work at the intersection of Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome? (11:15) * How do genetics connect to Alzheimer’s risk? (20:13) * What are some of the barriers to research for people with Down syndrome? (22:52) * How are you working to educate the next generation of researchers? (28:00) * What are your hopes for the future of Alzheimer’s research? (34:25) * Can you tell us more about what the current clinical studies are testing? (36:33) * Why is clear, easy-to-understand communication so important in this space? (39:20) Learn more about ATRI [https://atri.usc.edu/]

The Role of Regulatory Affairs in Advancing Alzheimer’s Research with Elizabeth Shaffer

Regulatory affairs is one of the key mechanisms that keeps clinical trials moving forward — ensuring participant consent, overseeing the review process, and helping trials occur faster. In this episode, Elizabeth Shaffer joins the podcast to discuss her work as Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) and the Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC). She shares an overview of the consent process for participants, explains what Institutional Review Boards (IRB) are, and how they oversee research.  She discusses some key advancements in the regulatory process for Alzheimer’s clinical trials throughout her career. Elizabeth also reflects on ATRI’s progress and shares some of her hopes for the future of Alzheimer’s research.  Episode Recap: * In this episode, we’re talking with ATRI’s Regulatory Affairs Manager, Elizabeth Shaffer (0:40) * How did you get involved with regulatory affairs? (2:27) * What is regulatory, and how has it evolved since you started working in this field? (5:46) * What role does the IRB play in clinical research? (8:37) * How do you make sure you’re communicating clearly to trial participants? (9:35) * What are you most excited about in your work today? (13:10) * How does your work make research faster and more accessible? (17:09) * What does the consent process look like for participants throughout a trial? (18:36) * What keeps you motivated to do this work, and what are you most proud of? (24:49)  * What is your hope for the future of ATRI? (30:09) Learn more about ATRI [https://atri.usc.edu/] Connect with Elizabeth Shaffer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjshaffer]