The new research center, in development with recent approval from the Dean and internal funding supports, aims to address gaps in the existing framework for cognitive aging research and training at UD, stimulate new federally-funded research, and grow the number of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia researchers at UD by engaging existing faculty and attracting new talent to the university. The effort is led by Matthew Cohen, CSCD Associate Professor, and Chris Martens, KAAP Assistant Professor. On the executive board are: Curtis Johnson, biomedical engineering assistant professor Alyssa Lanzi, CSCD Research Assistant Professor James Michael Ellison, MD, MPH, Psychiatry at ChristianaCare. (UD photo)
The new research center, in development with recent approval from the Dean and internal funding supports, aims to address gaps in the existing framework for cognitive aging research and training at UD, stimulate new federally-funded research, and grow the number of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia researchers at UD by engaging existing faculty and attracting new talent to the university. The effort is led by Matthew Cohen, CSCD Associate Professor, and Chris Martens, KAAP Assistant Professor. On the executive board are: Curtis Johnson, biomedical engineering assistant professor Alyssa Lanzi, CSCD Research Assistant Professor James Michael Ellison, MD, MPH, Psychiatry at ChristianaCare. (UD photo)
The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) announced a five-year $13.1 million dollar planned investment in the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research (DECCAR) at the University of Delaware (UD) through its Paul H. Boerger Fund.
“No one has to look very far afield to witness and understand the tragedy of Alzheimer’s, and the research supported by this grant will help UD researchers come ever-closer to uncovering life-improving and life-saving solutions,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “The grant was provided through the generosity of late Paul H. Boerger, who made a substantial legacy gift to the fund he had established at the DCF in his lifetime, and his foresight will help so many.”
The Paul H. Boerger Fund was created in 2014 by Paul Boerger and it received an estate gift following his death in 2017. Boerger’s legacy wish was that the fund support research to prevent and/or cure Alzheimer’s disease. The DCF first awarded a $575,000 grant from its Paul H. Boerger Fund to DECCAR in 2023 to support the Delaware Longitudinal Study for Alzheimer’s Prevention (DeLSAP), an observational study that explores how health, lifestyle and biology influences dementia risk over time and helps identify early signs of cognitive impairment.
DCF leadership invited DECCAR to submit a new proposal — leading to one of the largest investments in Delaware’s history for Alzheimer’s research.
“This transformational gift will significantly expand Alzheimer’s research throughout the state,” said Director of DECCAR and Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Christopher Martens. “It will also help grow the number of researchers in Delaware focused on Alzheimer’s disease, promoting an interdisciplinary approach.”
Bringing together researchers from multiple fields to collaborate on a critical challenge like Alzheimer’s disease is a key strength of the University of Delaware, said Interim President Laura Carlson.
The $13.1 million investment will help DeLSAP expand from 100 to 500 participants over the next five years and fund the development of a blood test that uses samples to identify biomarkers for better predicting Alzheimer’s progression. The grant will also support the purchase of a $3.2 million state-of-the-art MRI machine for UD’s STAR Campus, improving statewide access to a critical diagnostic tool and expanding research infrastructure.
More information about projects supported by the DCF through the grant is available on UDaily, UD's news site.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.