title: A model for improving the treatment and care of Alzheimer's disease patients through interdisciplinary research.
abstract: The emerging global epidemic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) demands novel paradigms to address the two unmet needs of the field: (a) cost-effective health care delivery programs/services, and (b) clinical and basic research to accelerate therapy discovery/development. This report outlines a model demonstration project, the Marian S. Ware Alzheimer Program at the University of Pennsylvania, which was designed to achieve four specific aims: (1) improve the integration and continuity of AD care; (2) identify biomarkers that detect the earliest presence of AD and related neurodegenerative cognitive disorders; (3) enhance both the design and conduct of clinical trials as well as review their results to more effectively test new AD therapies and translate valuable therapies into clinical practice; and (4) discover and develop novel disease-modifying small molecule treatments for AD. The "Ware-UPenn" program has been presented in this report as a useful prototype for partnerships between private philanthropy and academia in planning and developing programs to address a major national public health problem.
authors.affiliation: Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. trojanow@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: John Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Trojanowski
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Jason H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Karlawish
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: Kurt R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Brunden
authors.forename: Virginia M Y
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012107:Research Design