IL Awards Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grants

State Health Department Awards More than $100,000 in Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grants

Research Aimed at Advancing Medical and Educational Techniques for Patients and Caregivers

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has awarded four Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund Grants to help advance innovative medical and educational techniques for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. Researchers from Eastern Illinois University, Northwestern University and University of Chicago received grants totaling $116,000.

Since 1986, Illinois residents have voluntarily contributed more than $4 million to the Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund through their IL-1040 income tax returns, supporting 166 research projects.

Taxpayers contributed $117,410 to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund last year and can, once again, donate to the fund when paying state taxes in 2012. Illinois' voluntary income tax funds must raise a minimum of $100,000 by each October 1 to remain on the IL-1040 forms.

Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable, progressive degenerative disease of the brain. It is the most common form of dementia. About 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and in 2008 was the 6th leading cause of death in Illinois.

“Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there have been significant medical advances to better help us understand and treat the disease,” said IDPH Acting Director, Dr. Arthur Kohrman. “Thanks to the generosity of the citizens of Illinois, we are able to continue to provide funding for important research that could possibly lead to a cure.”

The four grant recipients are as follows:

Britto P. Nathan, Ph.D.
Eastern Illinois University
“Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Interaction of ApoE and Estrogen in Neuronal Growth—Potential relevance to Alzheimer’s Disease”
$26,000 award

Ken Paller, Ph.D.
Northwestern University
“Testing a Psychosocial-Educational Intervention for Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Caregivers”
$30,000 award

Virginie Buggia-Prevot, Ph.D.
University of Chicago
“Illuminating BACE1 Trafficking in Hippocampal Neurons”
$30,000 award

Changiz Geula, M.D.
Northwestern University
“Response of Human Microglia to Different Conformations of Amyloid”
$30,000 award

IDPH reviewed grant requests in consultation with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act Advisory Committee and Peer Review Panel. Members of the advisory committee include professionals who work with people with Alzheimer's patients and family members, researchers, and representatives from the general public.