Our Portfolio

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) publishes all programs that we fund in our research portfolio. Funded research projects can be viewed by the year of funding or by program area, and can also be found by searching for an investigator or certain keywords. Please note that your search term(s) must contain at least four characters.

Additionally, please note that grant funding priorities at the ADDF change over time. The ADDF maintains strict confidentiality with all of our funded projects and cannot share additional information on projects without permission from the investigator(s).

The ADDF does not recommend one particular clinical trial or research program over another. The ADDF is not responsible for the accuracy of the information provided, the selection of research subjects (patients) or the conduct of the clinical trial, treatment IND/expanded access program or other research program.

SEARCH GRANTS

Your grant search has return( 568 ) results

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- Year
- Grantee
- Organization
- Title
- Program Area
- Amount

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- 2018
- Steven Finkbeiner, MD, PhD
- The J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Novel Human FTLD Neuron and Microglia Cell Models for Drug Discovery
- Drug Discovery
- $150,000
Duration: 02/01/2018 - 01/31/2019

Abstract:

Mutations in the progranulin gene are one of the most common causes of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a rare type of dementia. These mutations reduce levels of functional progranulin protein, which increases inflammation in the brain and can result in cell death. The FTD field lacks robust cellular platforms that represent human disease biology for drug discovery research. Dr. Finkbeiner plans to create human cell models to mimic the complex biology observed in patients with progranulin mutations. With this funding, he will generate neurons and microglia (the brain's immune cells) using skin cells from FTD patients with progranulin mutations. He and his team will then use the cell models to help identify potential new drugs targeting progranulin mutations. This project is co-funded through the ADDF's partnership with the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, now in its 11th year.

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- 2018
- Eugenia Trushina, PhD
- Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Small Molecule Inhibitors of Mitochondrial Complex I for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
- Drug Discovery
- $600,000
Duration: 01/11/2018 - 01/11/2019

Abstract:

Mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of cells. Abnormal mitochondrial function has been shown to contribute to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Trushina is developing novel drugs to restore mitochondrial dysfunction in diseased neurons. With ADDF funding over the last several years, she has translated her basic research findings into a large-scale drug discovery project. Dr. Trushina will now work with Dr. Lars Knutsen, an experienced medicinal chemist, on the next stages of drug development. They plan to test novel optimized molecules that target mitochondrial dysfunction for potential as effective Alzheimer’s treatments. This will enable Dr. Trushina to move the most promising compounds forward toward the goal of initiating human clinical trials in the next two to three years.

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- 2018
- Barbara Borroni, MD
- University of Brescia
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Restore Cortical Plasticity and Connectivity in Genetic and Sporad
- Clinical
- $90,000
Duration: 11/15/2017 - 11/14/2020

Abstract:

Dr. Borroni and her team discovered that people with a disease-causing mutation for frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) have impairment in specific brain circuits nearly two decades before the onset of symptoms. Non-invasive techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been shown to modulate brain circuits in healthy subjects and improve cognitive function in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. With this award, Dr. Borroni will conduct a clinical trial to explore the effects of repeated sessions of tDCS in patients with FTD and in presymptomatic carriers with a genetic mutation for FTD, who already show impairment in brain circuit functioning. This is the first ever trial to test a non-pharmacological approach to FTD. This award was made through The Fund to Treat FTD, in collaboration with the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

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- 2018
- Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD
- University of Arizona
- Allopregnanolone Novel Patentable Formulations to Advance Commercialization
- Clinical
- $150,000
Duration: 11/01/2017 - 12/31/2018

Abstract:

Dr. Brinton is currently preparing for a phase 2 clinical trial of allopregnanolone, which is on track to become the first neuroregenerative therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Allopregnanolone is a naturally occurring neuro-steroid that spurs a process called neurogenesis, which involves regenerating lost neurons to restore cognitive function. The ADDF has supported Dr. Brinton’s development of this therapy for over a decade. This grant supports the creation of a patentable formulation of allopregnanolone. This will allow Dr. Brinton to commercialize her therapy if future clinical trials are successful. The funding was awarded as part of Dr. Brinton’s receipt of the 2017 Goodes Prize for Excellence in Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery.

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- 2018
- John Olichney, MD
- University of California Davis School of Medicine
- Manufacture and Testing of GMP Grade Senicapoc for a Phase 2 Clinical Trial Repurposing for Prodroma
- Clinical
- $434,991
Duration: 06/01/2017 - 09/30/2020

Abstract:

Microglia are the brain’s immune cells and, when overactive, can cause damaging inflammation. Preclinical research showed that drugs that block the calcium-activated potassium channel KCa3.1 reduce the activation of microglia and associated inflammation and may help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related damage. Dr. Olichney and an interdisciplinary team of researchers at UC Davis have identified an existing KCa3.1 blocker called Senicapoc, which had excellent safety and tolerability in prior clinical trials for sickle cell anemia and asthma. Senicapoc (or other KCa3.1 channel blockers) have not yet been tested in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. With this funding, the team will manufacture clinical-grade Senicapoc and perform stability testing required for submission of an Investigational New Drug application to the FDA. If the application is approved, they plan to move quickly to begin a phase 2 clinical trial.

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- 2018
- Sharon Rosenzweig-Lipson, PhD
- AgeneBio Inc.
- Accelerating Manufacture of Clinical Supplies for Initiation of Patient Enrollment in the HOPE4MCI P
- Clinical
- $798,087
Duration: 11/09/2017 - 11/09/2018

Abstract:

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a condition in which memory is worse than expected for a person's age, is recognized as an early stage of Alzheimer's disease with a high risk of progression to dementia. Currently there is no FDA-approved treatment for aMCI. AgeneBio developed the therapy AGB101 to slow progression in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease. It targets hippocampal hyperactivity, which is characteristic of the aMCI stage of the disease and predicts progression to a diagnosis of dementia. The company is now preparing for a phase 3 trial of AGB101 in 2018. The FDA has reviewed the Phase 3 clinical protocol and the manufacturing plan and supports its implementation. This award from the ADDF will support the manufacture, testing, validation, packaging, and distribution of study medication to accelerate the start of the phase 3 trial.

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- 2018
- Grace Stutzmann, PhD
- NeuroLucent
- Ryanodine Receptor Inhibitors as a Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
- Drug Discovery
- $308,985
Duration: 02/01/2017 - 02/01/2018

Abstract:

Dr. Stutzmann is targeting early abnormalities in neurons, specifically increases in calcium levels. Increased calcium can become toxic to neurons and lead to impaired synaptic function and structure, which harms memory. Dr. Stutzmann found that increases in calcium within neurons are triggered by the ryanodine receptor, and drugs designed to inhibit the receptor can correct the problem. She recently founded the biotechnology company, NeuroLucent LLC, to further develop ryanodine receptor drugs. With this funding, Dr. Stutzmann and team will design, test, and optimize a series of small molecule drug candidates for the purpose of stabilizing dysregulated calcium signaling within brain cells in patients with early Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment.

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- 2017
- Blaine Roberts, PhD
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
- Plasma Abeta Protein Complexes for the Early Detection of Brain Amyloid Accumulation
- Biochemical Biomarkers (Blood, CSF
- $149,518
Duration: 08/01/2017 - 08/01/2018

Abstract:

Alzheimer’s remains a difficult disease to accurately diagnose, because there are few tests available. Dr. Roberts is developing a screening tool for the early detection of Alzheimer’s, before symptoms emerge. With previous ADDF funding, Dr. Roberts and his colleagues discovered protein complexes in the blood that have the potential to provide an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The new ADDF funding will help Dr. Roberts’s group to optimize two different methods that can more quickly and sensitively measure these protein complexes. They will use samples from the Australian Imaging and Biomarker Lifestyle (AIBL) study of aging, one of the largest studies of Alzheimer’s disease in the world, to validate their new analytical methods. The goal is to create an affordable blood test to detect Alzheimer’s in its early stages.

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- 2017
- Alexandros Makriyannis, PhD
- Northeastern University
- FAAH Inhibitors as Alzheimer's Disease Medications
- Drug Discovery, Inflammation
- $250,000
Duration: 12/01/2016 - 12/01/2017

Abstract:

Cannabinoid receptors in the brain are involved in immune response and inflammation. With ADDF funding in 2015, Dr. Makriyannis and his team began developing novel Alzheimer’s drugs that indirectly target the cannabinoid receptors. He aims to activate the CB1 cannabinoid receptor by inhibiting an enzyme called Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH). In this proposal, Dr. Makriyannis and team will design novel FAAH inhibitors that prevent damage to neurons and synapses induced by Alzheimer’s disease. If successful, this work will bring these promising drug candidates closer to human clinical testing.

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- 2017
- D. Martin Watterson, PhD
- NeuroKine Therapeutics, LLC
- Catalyzing p38aMAPKI Drug Candidate, MW150, into the Clinic
- Drug Discovery, Inflammation
- $150,000
Duration: 08/01/2017 - 08/01/2018

Abstract:

Inflammation in the brain can damage neurons and accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. And kinases, which are enzymes that perform a range of critical functions in our bodies, are involved in brain inflammation. With funding from the ADDF that began in 2001, Dr. Watterson worked to discover a molecule that would target inflammation in the brain and slow Alzheimer’s disease. He ultimately developed MW150, a drug that inhibits specific kinases and reduces brain inflammation. Now, he and his team, including Dr. Arancio at Columbia University, will complete the final set of studies necessary to compile and submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the FDA for approval to begin human clinical trials. The goal is to initiate a phase 1 trial as soon as approved.

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