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Grant Awards to Support Alzheimer's Research and Treatement

By Florida Department of Health, Office of Communications

December 23, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2014

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCES GRANT AWARDS TO SUPPORT ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH AND TREATMENT

TALLAHASSEE—Today, the Florida Department of Health announced the 2014 research grant funding awards for 11 projects to support research leading to the prevention or cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The grant awards are the result of the new $3 million initiative passed during the 2014 legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. Funding is provided through the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program that supports research for better prevention, diagnoses, treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s disease.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Today is a great victory for the individuals and their families who are battling this terrible disease. With our $3 million investment in Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment research, the awarded organizations can begin to provide hope for the many individuals and their families whose lives are affected by Alzheimer’s. We look forward to seeing the success of these projects and will continue to focus on enhancing Florida’s developing research community.”

The Department awarded research grants through a peer-reviewed, competitive process based on recommendations by the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Advisory Board. Grant funding supports research to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and expands Alzheimer’s disease research in Florida. Researchers at any university or research institute in Florida were eligible to apply.

The following organizations received grant funding awards:

  • Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville
  • University of Florida
  • University of Miami
  • University of South Florida

State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong said, “These awards demonstrate our commitment to improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Continued research through the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program promotes a healthier future for Florida’s adults and families.”

President Pro Tempore Garrett Richter, said, “I am pleased that the funding provided through the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program has been awarded. The availability of research funding for Alzheimer’s disease is a major step towards advancing our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and furthering our knowledge of prevention and finding a cure.”

Speaker pro tempore Matt Hudson, Chair of the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee and House sponsor of HB 709, said “I am pleased to see that the Alzheimer’s research grant awards have been provided. These awards will be instrumental towards researchers learning more about Alzheimer’s and finding a cure for a disease that so many Floridians are living with.”

Dr. Kenneth Brummel-Smith, Charlotte Edwards Maguire Professor, Chair of the Department of Geriatrics, Florida State University and Chair of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Advisory Board said, “The allocation of these awards is a milestone in the battle against Alzheimer’s Disease. This groundbreaking research will move us closer to improving prevention efforts and ensuring better health for thousands of Floridians affected by this devastating disease.”

Kay Redington, CEO, Alzheimer's Association, Central and North Florida said, "The Alzheimer's Association is grateful to our state lawmakers for their dedicated support of Alzheimer's disease research funding. As an organization, we work hard to advocate for these kinds of milestones. Through this critically-needed research program, we know our state, and our country is that much closer to a treatment and eventual cure of this disease.”

Nilufer Ertkin-Taner, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Jacksonville said, “We are grateful and honored that three scientists at Mayo Clinic are recipients of grants awarded by the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program. This Program is a milestone initiative that will enable research studies that are expected to lead to advancement in our fight against Alzheimer’s disease in Florida and globally.”

Todd Golde, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease at University of Florida Health said, "It's great that the state of Florida has increased its investment in Alzheimer's disease research. Florida is the epicenter of the Alzheimer's epidemic and these grants to UF and other institutions in Florida will help us combat this devastating disease.”

David Loewenstein, Ph.D., Carlos Moraes, Ph.D. and Claes Wahlestedt, M.D., Ph.D., in a combined statement said, “On behalf of all University of Miami School of Medicine investigators, we would like to thank the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) Research Program for its support. This funding will support our work in leading a statewide consortium, which includes the University of Florida, Florida International University and Mount Sinai Medical Center, to identify the earliest manifestations of AD through novel cognitive and neuroimaging modalities. We will also examine basic aspects of the disease through discovery of molecular biomarkers, studies of gene expression and possible drug treatments to address critical aspects of patient care.”

Dr. Jun Tan, Professor of Psychiatry and an Associate Member of the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute said, “We are pleased that University of South Florida has been awarded these funds made possible through the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program. The availability of these funds will allow us to continue developing a dietary supplement found in citrus fruits for clinical trial to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Our early evidence suggests this natural product can help stop the brain from developing the amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's.”

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