Dec. 15, 2015

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCES GRANT FUNDING FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH

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Tallahassee, Fla.—Today, the Florida Department of Health announced the 2015 grant awards for 15 projects to support research leading to the prevention of or cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. Funding is provided through the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program that supports research for better prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s disease.

Governor Rick Scott said, “To the families and loved ones of those affected by Alzheimer’s, these important projects will help us on our path to finding a cure. Last year, we invested additional funding toward research programs across the state to help find new treatments and preventions for those who suffer from this disease. We look forward to seeing the ongoing success of Florida’s research community as they work to change the future of Alzheimer’s.”

State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong said, “Thanks to the work of Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature, the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program is funding 15 high-impact projects to find innovative treatments and cures that will help patients living with Alzheimer’s disease. I want to thank the members of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Advisory Board for their thoughtful review and recommendations based on a strategic agenda of prevention, treatment and family support.”

The research grants were awarded through a peer-reviewed, competitive process based on recommendations by the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Advisory Board. Researchers at any university or research institute in Florida are eligible to apply.

The following organizations and research projects received grant funding awards:

• Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville - $900,000
  • Clinicopathologic and Genetic Differences of Neurodegenerative Health Disparities in the State of Florida Brain Bank, $250,000
  • Clusterin prevention of Alzheimer pathology, $250,000
  • Neuropsychological Norms for Ethnically Diverse Florida Elders, $200,000
  • Targeting ApoE for Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery, $200,000
• University of Florida - $849,436
  • Consortium for Diagnostic Algorithm with Novel Markers in Early Alzheimer's Disease, $250,000
  • An Analgesic Trial to Reduce Pain and Behavior Disruptions in Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer's Disease, $249,436
  • Pilot Intervention in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Proof of Concept Study with Transcranial Near Infrared Stimulation, $100,000
  • Linking Older Adults from the Community in Florida to Memory Screening and Related Health Research, $250,000
• University of Miami - $587,566
  • Post-doctoral Fellowship Training Program in Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Assessment and Development of Novel Tools to Assess Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease, $88,470
  • A Non-Pharmalogical Intervention for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Family Caregivers, $249,096
  • Epigenetic Modulation of Alzheimer's Disease Hallmarks, $250,000
• University of West Florida - $81,499
  • Enhancing Detection of  Alzheimer's Disease  Biomarkers Using Phage-derived Quantification (PdQ), $81,499
• Florida State University - $331,499
  • Optimization of “Powerful Tools” for Caregivers of Dementia Patients, $250,000
  • Blood Exosomes and Neurodegenerative Disease, $81,499
• Florida Atlantic University - $250,000
  • Caring For You (C4U): A Novel Intervention to Improve Caregiver and Patient Outcomes and Quality of Life, $250,000

Funding through the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program is the result of a $3 million initiative passed by the 2014 legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott.

Florida Senate President Pro Tempore Garrett Richter said, “I am pleased to see that the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Programs have been awarded again. This research is paramount in our mission to unburden Florida’s adults and families from this devastating disease.”

Florida House Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Hudson, Chair of the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee said, “The grant funding for Alzheimer’s research is a priority for our state, and I am pleased that this new round of awards have been provided. Each of these awards contributes to our goal of learning new ways to prevent and ultimately cure Alzheimer’s disease.”

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, “This second year of funding awarded through the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program is vital to our state’s continued progress in Alzheimer’s research. This year grants were made for a wide variety of important aspects of Alzheimer’s research, including basic science, treatments, caregiver support, and increasing trainees with expertise in Alzheimer’s Disease. Universities all over the state are receiving funding to help fight this dreaded disease.”

Kay Redington, CEO, Alzheimer's Association, Central and North Florida said, "The Alzheimer's Association is grateful to our state lawmakers for their continued support of Alzheimer's disease research funding. Our organization works tirelessly to advocate for these kinds of critically-needed programs and we are encouraged by the ongoing support from our state leaders.”

For more information regarding the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program, please visit https://www.floridahealth.gov/provider-and-partner-resources/research/alzheimers-disease-research-program.html

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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