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Brittany N. Dugger, Ph.D.
A multi-disciplinary team of researchers led by Brittany Dugger, Ph.D., of UC Davis Health has been awarded a $6 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to continue to help define the neuropathology of Alzheimer disease with a focus on persons who identify as Hispanic/Latino. The five-year grant will continue to fund a large-scale initiative to present a comprehensive description of brain manifestations of Alzheimer disease with a focus on individuals of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and/or Dominican heritage.
This grant brings together an exceptional team of experts spanning many disciplines including machine learning, genetics, clinical/neuropsychology, health disparities, health equity, and statistics. The grant involves persons from multiple departments across UC Davis, including Lorena Garcia, M.P.H., Dr.P.H. and Laurel Beckett, Ph.D. from Public Health Sciences, Dan Mungas, Ph.D. from Neurology, Chen-Nee Chuah, Ph.D. from Electrical and Computer Engineering and Luis Carvajal-Carmona, Ph.D. and Paul Lott, Ph.D. from Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine. The grant also involves collaborations with Emory University with David Gutman, M.D., Ph.D., as well as the Human Computation Institute with Pietro Michelucci, Ph.D.
From left to right: Lorena Garcia, M.P.H., Dr.P.H., Laurel Alison Beckett, Ph.D., Dan M. Mungas, Ph.D., Chen-Nee Chuah, Ph.D., Luis Carvajal-Carmona, Ph.D. and Paul Lott, Ph.D.
The research will expand upon prior works-See papers:
- The neuropathological landscape of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White decedents with Alzheimer disease
- The neuropathological landscape of small vessel disease and Lewy pathology in a cohort of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White decedents with Alzheimer disease
“Most works on dementia have been focused on persons of certain demographics, it is imperative to study persons from diverse backgrounds, including persons who identify as Hispanic/Latino to develop cures that benefit ALL PERSONS” states Dr. Dugger.
To advance prevention and treatment of Alzheimer disease for all persons, it’s important to study the anatomic and pathologic bases and their link to clinical, demographic and genetic factors. The current grant will focus on ways human samples are evaluated- using machine learning methods to augment the ability of neuropathology experts, as well as utilizing citizen science to engage communities, especially those of Hispanic/Latino heritage to contribute with data analysis as well as provide outreach and educational opportunities.
Professor Kuang-Yu Jen was recently honored for completing the Leadership and Executive Administration Development (LEAD) Program for UC Davis physicians.
Congratulations to Vihar Patel, M.D., for his engagement with high school students in the Viasalia Unified School District. Dr. Patel is committed to promoting Pathology and other health care related opportunities with students of all ages.
Congratulations to Distinguished Professor Yvonne Wan and colleagues for their recent publication in Molecular Therapy titled: "miR-22 Gene Therapy Treats HCC by Promoting Anti-tumor Immunity and Enhancing Metabolism". This publication has received quite a bit of attention including being highlighted in the September 15th issue of the Cancer Letter (PDF).
Yicheng Lou was the first place winner at the annual Hugh Edmondson Research Internship scientific poster session for her project titled, “Method Development for Proteomic Host Profiling of Adult Patients with Suspected Infection and Sepsis.” Ms. Lou was mentored by Professor Nam Tran, Senior Clinical Pathology Director. Yutong Shao, mentored by Neuropathology Director Lee-Way Jin, M.D., Ph.D., won second place for her poster, “SIMOA Quantification of Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers in Plasma.” The nine undergraduate interns wrapped up their summer session with mentors, family and friends as they presented their projects and answered questions. Former UC Davis Pathology Chair Robert Cardiff, M.D., co-founder of the Edmondson program, shared remarks, while Interim Chair Kuang-Yu Jen, M.D., Ph.D. and Edmondson Director Farzad Fereidouni, Ph.D. awarded achievement certificates.
Former chief resident Alex Ladenheim and other UC Davis Health colleagues have been chosen for the Third Place Junior Member Abstract Award by the College of American Pathologists for their poster presentation “Removing Race From the Calculation of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate: Outcomes”. They will be formally recognized at the 2023 Honors in Pathology ceremony on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at the CAP23 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.
Associate Professor Elham Vali Betts and Associate Dean Kristin Olson gave a presentation “Teaching Modalities at University of California, Davis School of Medicine” at the Association of Pathology Chairs annual meeting in Chicago on Monday July 17, 2023.
