Core D: Neuropathology Core

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ABSTRACT – CORE D: NEUROPATHOLOGY CORE The Neuropathology Core (NC) will capitalize on the longstanding, actively recruiting University of Michigan (U- M) Brain Bank and more than 35 years of patient clinical characterization by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) researchers to advance the Michigan ADRC's central theme: to identify, understand and modulate the non-β- amyloid factors contributing to brain dysfunction and neurodegeneration in AD and related dementias (ADRD). The overall goal of the NC is to facilitate innovative research into the biological mechanisms of dementia by providing essential reagents, expertise, and access to technologies for investigators at U-M, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University, and to ADRCs and investigators across the country. Studies of ADRD will be facilitated by the integrated efforts of the NC, Clinical Core, Biomarker Core, and Data Management and Statistical Core to collect and properly characterize post-mortem material and associated antemortem biospecimens and clinical data from ADRC participants. The NC will provide postmortem material and other biospecimens to investigators while following the best practice guidelines delineated by the 2014 NIA biospecimen task force for the evaluation, banking and distribution of brain tissue and biospecimens. Leveraging the diverse expertise of NC investigators in neurodegenerative proteinopathies and a high-content automated microscopy shared resource, the NC also will facilitate innovative research into the biological mechanisms of dementia by providing essential reagents, expertise, and access to technologies for investigators. To accomplish these goals, the NC will pursue the following aims: 1) grow and maintain a brain bank with well-characterized frozen and fixed tissue, 2) provide accurate, detailed, and standardized neuropathological evaluation, 3) distribute banked tissue and biospecimens, 4) contribute neuropathologic data to the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC), 5) support researchers studying AD and related dementias by providing access to innovative technologies, and 6) educate trainees about the neuropathologic assessment of dementia. Through these aims, the NC will greatly facilitate basic and translational studies of the dementias, expand the research community actively engaged in this work, and help build new collaborations for future discoveries.