Our Research

Research. Understand. Cure.

We’re focused on funding leading-edge research that contributes to our collective understanding of dementia—with the ultimate goal of ending it, for good.

The research we fund could lead to the breakthrough the world has been waiting for.

Feature Projects

Stress-related cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation and its role in neuronal apoptosis in a cell culture model of PGRN deficiency Alzheimer Disease

Dr. William Jia , University of British Columbia

Arya Mehran

Neurally-produced estradiol enhances the neuroprotective actions of insulin

Dr. Arya Mehran , BC Children’s Hospital

Preclincal development of a disease modifying small molecule therapy for Alzheimer disease

Dr. David Vocadlo , Simon Fraser University

Precision Genetic Model of Neurovascular Unit to Study Alzheimer Disease

Dr. Cheryl Wellington & Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Revisiting the vascular contribution to Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Cheryl Wellington , University of British Columbia

Explore past projects

2022

The effects of resistance training on myelin and blood-based biomarkers of neuroplasticity in older adults

Dr. Nárlon Cássio Boa Sorte Silva , University of British Columbia

Dr. Nárlon Cássio Boa Sorte Silva University of British Columbia

Building bespoke artificial cells and tissues on a chip for drug discovery

Dr. Katherine Elvira , University of Victoria

Dr. Katherine Elvira University of Victoria

2021

Chemical suppression of nonsense mutations for the treatment of Frontotemporal Dementia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

Understanding the Role O-GlcNAc in Protein Stability

Dustin King , Simon Fraser University

Dustin King Simon Fraser University

Contribution of microglia activation and neuronal oxidative stress to Alzheimer’s disease

Dr. Brian MacVicar & Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Brian MacVicar & Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

The role of smooth muscle cell metabolism of amyloid beta in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Dr. Gordon A. Francis , St. Paul’s Hospital, UBC

Dr. Gordon A. Francis St. Paul’s Hospital, UBC

Building bespoke artificial cells and tissues on a chip for drug discovery

Dr. Katherine Elvira , University of Victoria

Dr. Katherine Elvira University of Victoria

The effects of resistance training on myelin and blood-based biomarkers of neuroplasticity in older adults

Dr. Nárlon Cássio Boa Sorte Silva , University of British Columbia

Dr. Nárlon Cássio Boa Sorte Silva University of British Columbia

2020

The role of smooth muscle cell metabolism of amyloid beta in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Dr. Gordon A. Francis , St. Paul’s Hospital, UBC

Dr. Gordon A. Francis St. Paul’s Hospital, UBC

Precision Genetic Model of Neurovascular Unit to Study Alzheimer Disease

Dr. Cheryl Wellington & Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Cheryl Wellington & Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

Chemical suppression of nonsense mutations for the treatment of Frontotemporal Dementia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

Contribution of microglia activation and neuronal oxidative stress to Alzheimer’s disease

Dr. Brian MacVicar & Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Brian MacVicar & Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

Understanding the Role O-GlcNAc in Protein Stability

Dustin King , Simon Fraser University

Dustin King Simon Fraser University

The effects of resistance training on myelin and blood-based biomarkers of neuroplasticity in older adults

Dr. Nárlon Cássio Boa Sorte Silva , University of British Columbia

Dr. Nárlon Cássio Boa Sorte Silva University of British Columbia

Building bespoke artificial cells and tissues on a chip for drug discovery

Dr. Katherine Elvira , University of Victoria

Dr. Katherine Elvira University of Victoria

2019

Neurally-produced estradiol enhances the neuroprotective actions of insulin

Dr. Arya Mehran , BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Arya Mehran BC Children’s Hospital

The role of smooth muscle cell metabolism of amyloid beta in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Dr. Gordon A. Francis , St. Paul’s Hospital, UBC

Dr. Gordon A. Francis St. Paul’s Hospital, UBC

Contribution of microglia activation and neuronal oxidative stress to Alzheimer’s disease

Dr. Brian MacVicar & Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Brian MacVicar & Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

Chemical suppression of nonsense mutations for the treatment of Frontotemporal Dementia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

Voices in Motion

Dr. Debra Sheets , University of Victoria

Dr. Debra Sheets University of Victoria

Understanding the Role O-GlcNAc in Protein Stability

Dustin King , Simon Fraser University

Dustin King Simon Fraser University

Precision Genetic Model of Neurovascular Unit to Study Alzheimer Disease

Dr. Cheryl Wellington & Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Cheryl Wellington & Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

2018

Voices in Motion

Dr. Debra Sheets , University of Victoria

Dr. Debra Sheets University of Victoria

The mechanism and significance of the synaptogenic activity of amyloid precursor protein

Dr. Vedrana Cvetkovska , University of British Columbia

Dr. Vedrana Cvetkovska University of British Columbia

Understanding the Role O-GlcNAc in Protein Stability

Dustin King , Simon Fraser University

Dustin King Simon Fraser University

Are there indicators of Alzheimer’s disease in the eye?: New computational imaging and analysis algorithms

Sieun Lee , Simon Fraser University

Sieun Lee Simon Fraser University

Chemical suppression of nonsense mutations for the treatment of Frontotemporal Dementia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

The development of comparison standards for the cognitive measures employed in Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Dr. Holly Tuokko , University of Victoria

Dr. Holly Tuokko University of Victoria

Neurally-produced estradiol enhances the neuroprotective actions of insulin

Dr. Arya Mehran , BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Arya Mehran BC Children’s Hospital

Human islet amyloid polypeptide aggregation, the missing link between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease?

Dr. Yun Zhang , University of British Columbia

Dr. Yun Zhang University of British Columbia

2017 & older

Novel Retinal Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Mirza Faisal Beg , Simon Fraser University

Dr. Mirza Faisal Beg Simon Fraser University

Stress-related cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation and its role in neuronal apoptosis in a cell culture model of PGRN deficiency Alzheimer Disease

Dr. William Jia , University of British Columbia

Dr. William Jia University of British Columbia

The development of comparison standards for the cognitive measures employed in Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Dr. Holly Tuokko , University of Victoria

Dr. Holly Tuokko University of Victoria

Non-invasive imaging of Alzheimer Disease biomarkers in the brain and eye

Dr. Marinko Sarunic , Simon Fraser University

Dr. Marinko Sarunic Simon Fraser University

Human islet amyloid polypeptide aggregation, the missing link between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease?

Dr. Yun Zhang , University of British Columbia

Dr. Yun Zhang University of British Columbia

Characterizing Dementia due to mixed Alzheimer and Vascular Pathology

Dr. Ging-Yuek Robin Hsiung , University of British Columbia

Dr. Ging-Yuek Robin Hsiung University of British Columbia

Preclincal development of a disease modifying small molecule therapy for Alzheimer disease

Dr. David Vocadlo , Simon Fraser University

Dr. David Vocadlo Simon Fraser University

Are there indicators of Alzheimer’s disease in the eye?: New computational imaging and analysis algorithms

Sieun Lee , Simon Fraser University

Sieun Lee Simon Fraser University

Neurally-produced estradiol enhances the neuroprotective actions of insulin

Dr. Arya Mehran , BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Arya Mehran BC Children’s Hospital

Locally produced brain insulin in memory and Alzheimer’s disease: A multi-disciplinary approach to a key question

Dr. James Johnson , University of British Columbia

Dr. James Johnson University of British Columbia

Assessment of melanotransferrin as an Alzheimer’s disease biomarker

Brett Eyford , University of British Columbia

Brett Eyford University of British Columbia

Validation of Connexins and Pannexins as a target for Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Christian Naus , University of British Columbia

Dr. Christian Naus University of British Columbia

Chemical suppression of nonsense mutations for the treatment of Frontotemporal Dementia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard , University of British Columbia

Dr. Haakon Nygaard University of British Columbia

Targeting Amyloid Propagation in Alzheimer Disease: Structures, Immunology and Extracellular Vesicle Topology

Dr. Neil Cashman , University of British Columbia

Dr. Neil Cashman University of British Columbia

Can the loss of brain-derived insulin cause Alzheimer’s disease

Dr. James Johnson , University of British Columbia

Dr. James Johnson University of British Columbia

Examining the effect of aerobic exercise on cognitive decline in older men and women, with mild cognitive impairment.

Dr. Cindy Barha , University of British Columbia

Dr. Cindy Barha University of British Columbia

Revisiting the vascular contribution to Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Cheryl Wellington , University of British Columbia

Dr. Cheryl Wellington University of British Columbia

The mechanism and significance of the synaptogenic activity of amyloid precursor protein

Dr. Vedrana Cvetkovska , University of British Columbia

Dr. Vedrana Cvetkovska University of British Columbia

Voices in Motion

Dr. Debra Sheets , University of Victoria

Dr. Debra Sheets University of Victoria

Altered glutamate dynamics in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease: Novel early biomarkers with therapeutic potential

Dr. Jasmin Hefendehl , University of British Columbia

Dr. Jasmin Hefendehl University of British Columbia

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