The $21.4 Million Breakthrough: 5 Ways UAB’s Alzheimer’s Center Is Revolutionizing Deep South Dementia Care
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Alzheimer's Disease Center (ADC) is currently at the forefront of a major revolution in dementia research and patient care, particularly for the underserved populations of the Deep South. As of late 2025, the center is leveraging a massive influx of funding and a newly established clinical hub to accelerate the fight against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders.
This new era of research, driven by a significant $21.4 million NIH grant, is focused on tackling the unique regional disparities in the Deep South, ensuring that cutting-edge diagnostics and anti-Alzheimer's therapies are accessible to a diverse cohort. The establishment of the UAB Brain Aging and Memory Hub and the leadership of a world-class neurologist signal a powerful commitment to overcoming one of the greatest medical challenges of our time.
Director's Profile: Dr. Erik Roberson, MD, PhD
The UAB Alzheimer's Disease Center is currently directed by Dr. Erik D. Roberson, a highly regarded neurologist and neuroscientist whose expertise lies in age-related neurodegenerative disorders. His leadership is pivotal to the center’s mission and its recent expansion.
- Current Titles: Director of the UAB Alzheimer's Disease Center (ADC), Rebecca Gale Endowed Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, and Co-Director of the Integrative Center for Aging Research (ICAR).
- Education: Dr. Roberson earned his A.B. from Princeton University, followed by his M.D. and Ph.D. from Baylor College of Medicine.
- Post-Doctoral Training: He completed his residency in Neurology at UAB and a prestigious fellowship in Neurodegenerative Diseases at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease.
- Clinical Focus: He leads clinical trials and provides care for patients with memory disorders and various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), at the Kirklin Clinic.
- Research Focus: His laboratory research is dedicated to studying the neurobiology of how Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia develop and progress.
- Historical Context: Dr. Roberson continues the legacy established by the center's founding director, Dr. Lindy Harrell.
The $21.4 Million NIH Grant and Deep South Disparities
A major catalyst for the UAB ADC's current momentum is the $21.4 million grant received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2024. This substantial funding officially established the center as an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), a designation that recognizes its national importance and thematic focus.
The core mission of this newly funded ADRC is to address a critical, yet often overlooked, area: Deep South disparities in Alzheimer’s disease.
The research is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The UAB ADRC is specifically focused on recruiting and deeply phenotyping a cohort that is truly representative of the Deep South region. This includes a diverse group of participants, with the goal of identifying biological, environmental, and socio-economic factors that contribute to the high rate of Alzheimer's and dementia in this area.
By collecting and analyzing extensive data and biospecimens, the center aims to uncover unique insights that can lead to more targeted and effective treatment strategies for everyone, regardless of their background. This regional focus is a significant step toward achieving health equity in neurodegenerative disease research.
5 Ways UAB is Redefining Alzheimer's Care and Research
The UAB Alzheimer's Disease Center (UAB-ADC) is not just conducting research; it is actively transforming the landscape of patient care and scientific inquiry through several key initiatives. These efforts solidify UAB’s position as a leading institution in the global fight against dementia.
1. Launching the Brain Aging and Memory Hub
In a major development in spring 2024, UAB opened the Brain Aging and Memory Clinic, which is the central component of the new UAB Brain Aging and Memory Hub. This hub was created to anticipate and meet the increased needs of the Alzheimer's and dementia community. It provides a centralized location for comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and care for individuals experiencing memory problems, thinking problems, and other complex issues related to brain aging.
2. Leading Cutting-Edge Clinical Trials
The center is a powerhouse for clinical trials, offering patients the opportunity to access potentially effective anti-Alzheimer’s therapies that are not yet widely available. The UAB ADC is involved in multiple national and international studies, including:
- DIAN-TU (Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit): A study focused on individuals with genetically determined, early-onset AD. (NCT01760005)
- MyPATI: A study with the identifier NCT04571502.
- Phase 3 Studies: Participation in major pharmaceutical trials, such as the Phase 3 study of Aducanumab (BIIB037), also known as EMERGE, for early Alzheimer's disease.
3. Focusing on Amyloid and Imaging Substudies
A critical area of current research involves advanced diagnostic techniques. The UAB ADRC is utilizing an Imaging Substudy within its core cohort. The primary objective is to accurately measure the concentration and regional brain distribution of pathologic amyloid deposition—a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease—using advanced imaging technology. This work is essential for developing drugs that effectively target and clear amyloid plaques.
4. Investigating Racial and Ethnic Research Disparities
The ADRC's commitment to the Deep South cohort extends to addressing demographic disparities in research findings. Recent work from the center has explored racial differences in outcomes on embedded performance validity tests—critical tools used in neuropsychological assessment. This focus ensures that diagnostic and research protocols are culturally sensitive and scientifically sound for all populations.
5. Fostering National Research Collaborations
The UAB ADC's mission explicitly includes enabling research "through national collaborations." The center actively shares its deeply phenotyped data and biospecimens with other leading institutions and national databases, such as the NIA Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC). This spirit of cooperation accelerates the pace of discovery for the entire scientific community, moving the field closer to effective drug discovery and a cure for Alzheimer's disease and related memory disorders.
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