Kentucky Postbaccalaureate Alzheimer’s Disease Research Education Program (KYPAD) - Recent years have seen some modest success in developing therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD). As we look towards a future of improving ADRD care and reducing its societal burden, a critical issue is the potential shortfall of new and innovative scientific talent. This pending shortage is particularly acute in terms of our national need to expand our pool of scientific researchers. A major barrier to the successful recruiting of trainees is that a significant proportion of potential candidates have had little or no access to immersive research opportunities at their undergraduate institutions, many of which are smaller and traditionally under resourced. The University of Kentucky Postbaccalaureate Alzheimer’s Disease (KYPAD) Research Education Program will provide an in-depth research experience in ADRD for recent baccalaureate recipients in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. This cross-disciplinary program – based at an established AD Research Center – will create an intensive research experience, with the primary goal of preparing recent graduates for the transition into research-focused advanced degree programs in AD- related disciplines. Postbaccalaureate trainees will work on focused research projects in labs studying a wide range of AD and AD-related biomedical problems, will interact extensively with trainees and faculty at various levels of career development, and engage in carefully tailored professional development activities. This program will be led by two senior faculty with experience in establishing successful R25 and T32 programs, successful mentoring track records, and a dedication to expanding access to scientific training. Potential trainees will be able to select from a broad pool of University of Kentucky faculty with active research programs and history of NIH funding in the ADRD field, covering the full bench-to-bedside continuum of molecular and cellular biology, preclinical translational approaches, neuroimaging, biomarker development, neuropathology, clinical research, and data science. The majority of these mentors are faculty in the University of Kentucky Sanders Brown Center on Aging, which includes a long-standing NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), and belong to multiple basic and clinical departments. Trainees will participate in a structured educational program that includes graduate level coursework, training in the responsible conduct of research, methods to enhance reproducibility, data science, and regular workshops and seminars, and will also participate in the annual Markesbery Symposium on Aging and Dementia. This R25 program will uniquely position postbaccalaureate trainees to pursue further advanced training in ADRD research.
