Pilot Projects 2005 - Present


Chang Su, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University
Cell-Type-Specific Impacts of Air Pollutants on Alzheimer's Disease in the Human Brain

Emily Luise Mroz, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Emory University
Trauma and Grief in Experienced Dementia-Caregivers: Implications for Health and Care Outcomes

Kyoung Shin Park, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Geriatrics and Gerontology, Emory University
Associations Between Lifestyle Modifications and Hippocampal-Dependent Memory in MCI

Seong Su Kang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University
Gut Inflammation-Derived Alzheimer's Disease: Exploring Potential Mechanisms and Biomarkers

Fikri Birey, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Human Genetics, Emory University
A Human Organoid Model of Selective Locus Coeruleus Vulnerability in Alzheimer's Disease

Julius Chung, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, Emory National Primate Research Center
Chemical Exchange-Sensitive Aβ Tracers for Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease

Shella Keiholz, Ph.D. Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Emory University
Translational Features of AD in resting state fMRI

Estibaliz Herrera De La Llave, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
Declines in Spatial Navigation Abilities as a Cognitive Biomarker for Early Alzheimer's Disease Detection

Cassie Mitchell, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Novel NLP and LLM Algorithms to Extract, Label, and Integrate Existing Cohort Data for Aging Predictive Medicine

Jaylene Arias, Ph.D. Associate Professor, School of Public Health, Georgia State University
Advancing Scalable Disclosure Practices for Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias

Liselotte DeWit, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University
Addressing Barriers to Improve Hypertension in MCI and Memory Concerns

Amit Shah, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, Emory University
Plant-Based Nutrition and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Feasibility Study

Alex Fedorov, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Emory University
Quantifying Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Trajectories

James Rilling, Ph.D. Professor, ECAS: Anthropology, Emory University
Cognitive empathy and the neurobiology of adult caregiving

Anke Huels, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, SPH: Epidemiology, Emory University
Understanding the Biological Consequences of Air Pollution on the Brain - A Targeted Multi-Omics Approach

Bo Liang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, SOM: Biochemistry, Emory University
Structural Analysis of the Tau:U1-70K (sub)complexes in Alzheimer's Disease

Hui Mao, Ph.D. Professor, SOM: Radiology – MR Research Lab, Emory University
Low-dose and Ultra-fast Multimodal and Multiplexed Imaging for AD and ADRD

Victoria Pak, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Emory University
Improving Sleep in Alzheimer's disease: A Pilot Intervention of Citicoline Supplementation

Antoine Trammell, M.D. Assistant Professor, SOM: Geriatrics, Emory University
Effect of Spironolactone in African Americans with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Srikant Rangaraju, M.D., Ph.D. Assist Professor SOM: Neurology, Emory University
Levi Wood, PhD Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, Georgia Tech
Therapeutic efficacy and biomarkers of ERK attenuation in an Alzheimer’s mouse model

Liuhua Shi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, SPH: Epidemiology, Emory University
A Big Data Approach to PM2.5 Components, Sources, and Alzheimer's Disease

Bo Liang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, SOM: Biochemistry, Emory University
Structural Analysis of the Tau:U1-70K (sub)complexes in Alzheimer's Disease

Carolyn Clevenger, DNP Professor & Assoc Dean, School of Nursing, Emory University
Promoting Caregiver Mastery in Navigating the Healthcare System

David J. Katz, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept of Cell Biology
Testing of a novel hypothesis for how pathological Tau aggregates function to kill neurons (Base grant)

Bing Yao, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept of Human Genetics
Dysregulation of 6mA and its molecular machinery contribute to AD onset (Base grant)

Zhaohui Qin, PhD Assoc Professor, Dept of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
Thomas Wingo, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Dept of Neurology
Leveraging Omics and Machine Learning to Understand Alzheimer Disease GWAS Loci (Base grant)

Fayron Epps, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Georgia State University
A Quest for Dementia Friendly Faith Villages to Support African American Families (Philanthropy)

Woon-Hong Yeo, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Tech
Skin-like electronics for quantification of autonomic activation in caregivers (Philanthropy)

Gary Bassell, PhD Professor, Dept of Cell Biology
The pathogenesis of dipeptide repeats (DPRs) in c9FTD/ALS (Philanthropy)

Charlene Bayer, PhD Chairman & CSO, Hygieia Sciences LLC
Defining an AD/FTD-Specific Breath Fingerprint of Underlying Inflammation and Neurodegenerative Processes (Philanthropy)

Irene Yang, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Elizabeth Corwin, PhD Professor, School of Nursing
Relationship between the Oral Microbiome to Alzheimer's Disease and Progression (Base grant)

Zhexing Wen, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept of Psychiatry
Modeling Alzheimer's Disease with Patient-specific iPSCs (Base grant)

Aliza Wingo, MD Assistant Professor, Dept of Psychiatry Thomas Wingo, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept of Neurology
Psychological Risk Modifiers of Alzheimer's Disease (Base grant)

Babak Mahmoudi, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept of Biomed Informatics (Philanthropy)
Electrophysiological Markers of Episodic Memory in Alzheimer's Disease

Robert Meller, PhD
Roger Simon, PhD
(Philanthropy)
A Blood RNA-Seq-based Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease

Anita Corbett, PhD Professor, Dept of Biochemistry
Interplay between Tau and the RNA Binding Protein ZC3H14 in AD Pathology (Base grant)

Morten Raastad, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept of Physiology
Early changes in gray matter axons in Alzheimer's mouse models (Base grant)

Ximei Qian, PhD Res Asst Prof, Dept of Biomed Engineering (Philanthropy)
Blood-based biomarkers for early detection of AD using novel nanotechnology

Hao Wu, PhD Associate Professor, SPH Biostatistics
Peng Jin, PhD Professor, Human Genetics (Philanthropy)
Methylation of Cell-free DNA in AD


Year 11 (2015-2016) Pilot Project Awardees

Eric Ortlund, PhD Associate Professor, Dept of Biochemistry
Biomarkers of Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (Base grant)


Srikant Rangaraju, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept of Neurology
Neuropathological Characterization and Therapeutic Targeting of Microglial Kv1.3 Channels in Alzheimer's Disease (Base grant)


Keith Wilkinson, PhD Professor, Dept of Biochemistry
Peptide Standards for the Identification of Novel Neurodegenerative Disease Biomarkers (Base grant)


Ihab Hajjar, MD (Philanthropy)
Autonomic control of the cardiovascular system in African Americans with MCI/AD


Year 10 (2014-2015) Pilot Project Awardees

Kenneth Hepburn, PhD Professor, School of Nursing
Patricia Griffiths, PhD Asst Professor, Dept of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics
Implementing the Tele-Savvy Program in Community Settings


Thomas Kukar, PhD Asst. Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology and Neurology
Understanding the Pathogenic Role of Decreased Progranulin (PGRN) Levels & Related Forms of Neurodegeneration


James Lah MD, PhD Associate Professor, Dept. of Neurology
Examining the Effects of CSF ApoE Isoforms on LR11 Biology and Abeta Production


Trisha Kesar, PhD Asst. Professor, Dept. of Rehab Medicine
Joe Nocera, PhD Asst. Professor, Dept. of Neurology
Split-Belt Motor Adaptation and Its Relationship with Cognitive Function


Year 9 (2013-2014) Pilot Project Awardees

Jonathan Glass, M.D., PhD Professor, Dept. of Neurology
William Hu MD, PhD Asst. Professor, Dept. of Neurology
TPP1 levels and activity in CSF and brain tissue in neurodegenerative disease


Keqiang Ye, PhD Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry
Asparagine Endopeptidase as a Therapeutic Target for AD


Gary Miller, PhD Professor, Dept. Environmental and Occupational Health, Rollins School of Public Health
Jason Richardson, Rutgers
Persistent Organic Pollutants and AD


Irfan Essa, PhD School of Interactive Technology, GA Tech
A Behavioral Imaging Approach to Characterize Progression of MCI and AD by Analysis of Walking Motion


Robert Cohen MD, PhD Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry
Measuring A-beta Oligomers with BOLD Responses to alpha7 nAChR agonist in AD rat


Stephen Traynelis, PhD Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology
Microglial Motion in an Animal Model of AD


Thomas Guillot, PhD Asst. Professor, Dept. Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health
Role of Autophagy in Microglial Activation and Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disease


Year 8 (2012-2013) Pilot Project Awardees

Nick Seyfried, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry
Early Changes in the Brain Proteome and AD Risk


David Gutman, M.D., PhD
Development of Automated Whole Slide Image Analysis Methodology to Quantify Plaque Burden in AD


Minoru Shinohara, PhD Associate Professor, School of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology
Norepinephrine Release with Exercise and Memory Function in Elderly Adults


Malu Tansey, PhD
Role of Central and Peripheral Inflammation in 5xFAD Mice in AD-like Pathology


Year 7 (2011-2012) Pilot Project Awardees

Kyle Steenland, PhD, School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health
Proposal to measure chlorinated pesticides in Costa Rican subjects participating in a screening program for neurologic disorders of aging


Xianyang Tang, PhD, Department of Radiology
Quantitative imaging of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease via x-ray phase CT


Xiaoping Hu, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Establishing MRI measures of Locus coeruleus for early detection of neurodegeneration during aging


Yi-Luen Ellen Do, PhD, Georgia Tech, College of Architecture
iMC System INtelligent Mini-Cog Test for Mild Cognitive Impairment screening (funded through Goizueta ADRC/ACTSI)


Year 6 (2010-2011) Pilot Project Awardees

Ranjita Betarbet, PhD, Department of Neurology
Efficacy & Interactions Between Beta Amyloid and Alpha Synuclein Seeding


William Hu MD, PhD, Department of Neurology
A Cerebrospinal Fluid Predictor of Decline in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease - A Multi-modal Approach


Hui Mao, PhD, Department of Radiology
Atherosclerosis, Cerebral Vascular Abnormalities and their Association with Dementia


Thomas Wingo, MD, Department of Neurology
Rare Variants in Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease


James Zheng, PhD, Department of Cell Biology and Neurology
Trafficking Defects Leading to Synaptic Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases


Fanxing Zeng, PhD, Department of Radiology
In Vivo PET Imaging of the Norepinephrine Transporter in Alzheimer's Disease


Year 5 (2009-2010) Pilot Project Awardees

Beth Buffalo, PhD, Department of Neurology and Yerkes National Primate Research Center


Eugene Agichtein, PhD, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Automated Web-Based Systems for Early Mild Cognitive Impairment Detection


James Zheng, PhD, Department of Cell Biology
Trafficking Defects Leading to Synaptic Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases


Peng Jin, PhD, Department of Human Genetics
Role of MicroRNAs in Alzheimer's Disease


Zhou Yang, PhD, Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health
Public Health Impact of Alzheimer's Disease in the United States


Year 4 (2008-2009) Pilot Project Awardees

Krish Sathian, MD, PhD, Dept of Neurology
Cognitive rehabilitation of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) A behavioral and functional neuroimaging study


Hui Mao, PhD, Dept of Radiology
Profiling Alzheimer's Disease Using NMR/MRS Based Metabolomics


Joseph Cubells, MD, PhD, Dept of Human Genetics
Fine mapping of an Alzheimer's disease associated region at DBH and association of plasma DBH with AD behavioral phenotypes


Peng Jin, PhD, Dept of Human Genetics
Role of MicroRNAs in Alzheimer's Disease


Year 3 (2007-2008) Pilot Project Awardees

Timothy Duong, PhD, Dept of Neurology and Yerkes National Primate Research Center
Novel Imaging Technologies for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease (AD)


Melanie Greenaway, PhD and Marsha Lewis, PhD, Dept of Neurology and School of Nursing
Interventions for Persons with Amnestic MCI and their Program Partners


Joseph Cubells, MD, PhD, Dept of Human Genetics
Genetic association analysis of catecholamine-cytokine interactions in Alzheimer's disease


Year 2 (2006-2007) Pilot Project Awardees

Elizabeth Buffalo, PhD, Dept of Neurology and Yerkes National Primate Research Center
Neuronal Mechanisms of Memory in the Medial Temporal Lobe


David Lynn, PhD, Dept of Chemistry
Short Aβ Segments as Probes to resolve Amyloid Neural Toxicity


Kerry Ressler, MD, PhD, Dept of Psychiatry and Yerkes National Primate Research Center
β-catenin involvement in neurodegeneration and learning and memory


Year 1 (2005-2006) Pilot Project Awardees

Brian Ciliax, PhD, Dept of Neurology
Developing a High Affinity Ligand for PET imaging of β-amyloid (Aβ) Deposits in Alzheimer's Disease


Felicia Goldstein, PhD, Dept of Neurology
White Matter Tract Integrity and Neuropsychological Functioning in Mild Cognitive Impairment


David Weinshenker, PhD, Dept of Human Genetics
The Influence of Norepinephrine on Human and Mouse Alzheimer's Disease