{"id":42421,"date":"2022-05-23T13:59:38","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T13:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pr.asianetpakistan.com\/?p=92178"},"modified":"2022-05-23T13:59:38","modified_gmt":"2022-05-23T13:59:38","slug":"davos-alzheimers-collaborative-announces-partnership-with-aga-khan-university-to-launch-first-alzheimers-research-initiative-in-east-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricajournal.com\/davos-alzheimers-collaborative-announces-partnership-with-aga-khan-university-to-launch-first-alzheimers-research-initiative-in-east-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"DAVOS ALZHEIMER\u2019S COLLABORATIVE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY TO LAUNCH FIRST ALZHEIMER\u2019S RESEARCH INITIATIVE IN EAST AFRICA"},"content":{"rendered":"
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, May 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Davos Alzheimer\u2019s Collaborative<\/a>\u00a0(DAC), the organization leading an unprecedented global response to Alzheimer\u2019s disease,\u00a0today announced a partnership with the Brain & Mind Institute at\u00a0Aga Khan University\u00a0(AKU) in Kenya, East Africa to launch\u00a0a two-part research program for Alzheimer\u2019s: a cohort research study, and a clinical trial. Both will address the longstanding lack of diversity in Alzheimer\u2019s research, aim to improve care, and increase access to future innovative treatments throughout Africa.<\/p>\n To date, nearly all studies of Alzheimer\u2019s disease have been conducted on white populations of Western European origin, meaning that 90 percent of the world\u2019s population has been left out.[1]<\/a>\u00a0The\u00a0Davos Alzheimer\u2019s Collaborative is responding to this lack of diversity by building a cohort of one million people, to date, 30 cohorts from 23 countries within North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and with this new partnership with the Brain & Mind Institute (BMI), AKU, Africa.<\/p>\n The partnership with the BMI\/AKU\u00a0is a trailblazing collaboration to fundamentally rethink Alzheimer\u2019s data collection and analysis. Because the research will be open source, it will help scientists and researchers worldwide gain a better understanding of Alzheimer\u2019s in vulnerable and underserved populations; which in turn, can accelerate the development of new treatments reflecting a precision medicine approach.<\/p>\n \u201cTo make progress on Alzheimer\u2019s Disease, it is essential that research include all races and ethnicities, especially diverse populations who have been left out of previous research efforts,\u201d said George Vradenburg, Founding Chairman of\u00a0the Board, Davos Alzheimer\u2019s Collaborative, and\u00a0Convener, The Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer\u2019s Disease.\u00a0\u201c<\/b>This partnership\u00a0with the Brain and Mind Institute\/Aga Khan University will build knowledge across racial, ethnic, gender, and national boundaries which will lay the foundation for new breakthroughs.\u201d<\/p>\n DAC\u00a0and\u00a0BMI\u00a0will use local networks and on-the-ground healthcare providers to collect blood and conduct digital cognitive assessments, which are critical to\u00a0identifying biomarkers that may indicate the presence of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are excited to partner on this cutting-edge study to broaden our understanding of Alzheimer\u2019s disease in Sub-Saharan Africa,\u201d said Zul Merali, Founding Director of the Brain and Mind Institute, AKU. \u201cThis work comes at a critical time as the entire continent of Africa is grappling with issues of healthy aging and ill health, particularly pertaining to dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u201d<\/p>\n DAC\u00a0is transforming research in Alzheimer\u2019s, working with researchers to make sure they have tools and technology to gather data, then pooling this information so the global scientific community can understand the heterogeneity of Alzheimer\u2019s disease. The DAC\/AKU partnership will play a key role in shaping a future of accessible, globally competent Alzheimer\u2019s treatment.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b>About\u00a0<\/b>the Davos Alzheimer\u2019s Collaborative<\/b><\/p>\n Launched at the World Economic Forum\u2019s 2021 meeting on The Davos Agenda, The Davos Alzheimer\u2019s Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder partnership committed to aligning stakeholders with a new vision for our collective global response against the challenges Alzheimer\u2019s presents to patients, caregivers and healthcare infrastructures. Convened by The World Economic Forum and The Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer\u2019s Disease (CEOi) and fueled by a mission of service to the estimated 150 million families and half a billion people inevitably impacted by this disease by 2050, DAC is a collaborative for the benefit of all people, in all places.<\/p>\n About the Brain and Mind Institute, AKU<\/b><\/p>\n The Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) at the Aga Khan University, operates in East Africa and Central\/South Asia.\u00a0 BMI\u2019s ethos is to span from neuron to the neighborhood, and across multi-country campuses. \u00a0The operational model is to empower and strengthen neuroscience and mental health research and interventions through capacity building and partnerships; connecting the rich tapestry of academics, research entities, stakeholders, and communities of lived experience.\u00a0 BMI facilitates interdisciplinary research, education and innovation in mental health and neurosciences.\u00a0Through transdisciplinary research approaches, BMI aims to impact the lives of people who are affected by debilitating neurological and mental health problems. Whether it is uncovering the causes of illness or advancing breakthrough research into treatments or interventions, BMI\u2019s approach is always mindful of the local needs of the people and communities at risk.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www. Partnership Addresses the Growing Alzheimer\u2019s Epidemic in Africa GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, May 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) \u2014 Research Will Produce Digital Cognitive Assessments and Collect Blood Samples for Gene Sequencing Models Clinical Trial Will Conduct Late-Stage Potential Treatment for Alzheimer\u2019s Builds on AKU\u2019s Brain and Mind Institute to Develop Integrated Brain Health Frameworks The\u00a0Davos Alzheimer\u2019s Collaborative\u00a0(DAC), [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nSusan Oliver\nDavos Alzheimer's Collaborative\n+17032164078\nsoliver@