Research Resources and Collaborations

• Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit
  Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit – The Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit (IMSU) was established at the Grand Rapids Research Center to serve the West Michigan research community and beyond. The facility was finalized with the installation of state-of-the-art mass spectrometers in February 2018 and immediately started a development phase to demonstrate our proteomics capabilities and expertise, establishing the IMSU as a formal, fee-for-service facility in September 2018.
• MSU-MI-SAPPHIRE Genomic Surveillance
  MSU-MI-SAPPHIRE Genomic Surveillance – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is enlisting experts and resources at Michigan State University to bolster the state’s fight against COVID, foodborne illnesses and more. Both Translational Neuroscience and the Department of Public Health collaborated in this project.
• The National Network to Innovate for COVID-19 and Adult Vaccine Equity (NNICE)
  The National Network to Innovate for COVID-19 and Adult Vaccine Equity (NNICE) – NNICE was established under the leadership of Michigan State University (MSU). This project involved faculty from Translational Neuroscience, Department of Public Health and Center for Bioethics and Social Justice. In West Michigan, we leveraged the established community partnerships to successfully enhance the rate of vaccination within underserved communities.
• Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

  Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (MADRC; P30AG053760) – Seven years ago, the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (Michigan ADRC) was established as a new consortium linking the three major research universities in Michigan: University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University. Serving the entire state of Michigan, the new Michigan ADRC achieved its milestones in wide-ranging activities and research that emphasize a central theme: to identify, understand and treat the myriad non-β- amyloid contributions to brain dysfunction and degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). With its recently renewed NIA support (2021), the Michigan ADRC is continuing this central theme because it captures the diverse expertise of our dementia scientists, sheds light on ADRD heterogeneity, and reflects the experience of the racially diverse pool of research participants engaged in Michigan ADRC-sponsored studies.

  Recently funded Latino Cohort Administrative Supplement; Building on our success and consistent with our Clinical Core Aim 2: Enhance diversity in aging and dementia research, we will establish a Latino Cohort remote enrollment site in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that will enroll Latino participants into the LC (N = 24 in Year 1) for annual follow up. The Michigan ADRC will work closely with Dr. Irving Vega (Administrative Supplement Lead, REC Co-Lead, and Biomarker Co-Investigator) and recruit from the Hispanic / Latino community Research Volunteer Directory (RVD) established by Dr. Vega through the Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD; P30AG059300) in which he serves as the Community Liaison and Recruitment Core Co-Lead. Dr. Vega has developed the RVD as a still-growing contact directory of over 500 adults who identify as Hispanic/Latino and are interested in research.

• Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease
  Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD; P30AG059300) – The Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD) leverages already collaborating resources within the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University to address health inequalities. It has a unique and targeted emphasis on social and behavioral factors related to Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), and it is the first NIA Center to focus on the Middle Eastern North African community, in parallel with the Latino community. The PIs constitute an interdisciplinary team with complementary strengths in life course sociology, life span developmental psychology and clinical neuropsychology with longstanding commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA). We have gathered a strong team across social, behavioral, economic, and medical sciences, benefiting from years of interdisciplinary research and partnerships within and across the three universities and local communities. Renewed in 2023, MCCFAD’s long-term goal is to eliminate ADRD disparities through research findings, mentorship, community links, and increased numbers of behavioral and social scientists from underrepresented backgrounds. The Center focuses on contexts in which ADRD develops and is experienced. Knowledge concerning the contexts of ADRD is limited, but it is critical for elucidating sociocultural, economic and behavioral contributors to and consequences of health disparities generally, and ADRD disparities specifically. The Center includes four Cores: Leadership and Administrative (LAC), Research and Education (REC), Analytic (AnC), Community Liaison and Recruitment (CLRC).