Rutgers to collaborate with Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University on Alzheimer's research conference
Two Rutgers professors will work with experts at Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University to organize the third U.S.-Israel Alzheimer's Disease Conference on September 22 at the former university, according to an announcement from the Aging & Brain Health Alliance (ABHA) at Rutgers—Newark.
Mark Gluck, a professor at the Center for Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience and director of the ABHA, and Michal Beeri, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Research Center, are coordinating Rutgers' involvement in this initiative.
The conference program will be divided into various speaker presentations, a poster presentation event for students and scientists to share their findings and an open conversation regarding how to enhance relations between U.S. and Israeli institutes that focus on topics related to Alzheimer's, according to the ABHA.
This is not the first time Gluck has facilitated such an event: Similar conferences were held at Hebrew University in 2005 and 2008. Gluck said what differentiates this conference from the one hosted in 2008 is the uptick in cases of Alzheimer's globally and its socioeconomic implications.
"What has changed since 2008 is the rapid increase in the rates of Alzheimer's disease around the world, turning this into a growing global mental health crisis that has significant societal and economic impacts in all countries," he said.
Another difference between 2008 and the present is Rutgers' increased role in researching Alzheimer's. Gluck said Rutgers now integrates various academic fields when approaching this area of study.
Gluck said the ABHA combines research and public health to expand current approaches to identifying and preventing the disease. The Center also places emphasis on investigating disparities in Alzheimer's development based on race.
Similar research was expanded last year in New Brunswick when Beeri was selected by Rutgers Health to establish the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer's and Dementia Clinical Research and Treatment Center, Gluck said.
Through this year's cross-university forum, Gluck aims to promote three major objectives: create more opportunities for joint research on Alzheimer's between Rutgers and Israeli academics, encourage more post-secondary Israeli students to attend Rutgers and open more doors for Rutgers students to conduct research in neurological research facilities in Israel.
In order to further the second goal, Gluck and Beeri have organized fundraising to cover the expenses of attending this conference for Rutgers students. Students selected as travel fellows through this program will be able to present their own research on aging, neurology or Alzheimer's disease during the poster session at the event.
According to the ABHA, research assistants, undergraduate and graduate students alike at any of the Rutgers and Rutgers Health campuses are eligible for a travel fellowship. Further details about the application requirements, process and deadlines can be found in the Center's announcement about the conference.
Gluck also hopes to meet his goal of providing more opportunities for Rutgers students to conduct research in this area internationally through a summer internship program called Brainright Israel next summer.
"Dr. Beeri and I are both excited and committed to expanding opportunities for Rutgers students to work with Israel colleagues on neuroscience and brain health studies relating to the search for a cure for Alzheimer's disease," he said.
