• What types of Research Studies do we conduct?
  • Treatment Studies
  • Diagnostic Studies
  • Genetic Studies
  • Ethics & Medical Decision Making Studies
  • Instrument Validation Studies
  • Open Studies
  
  
• About Normal Controls and the PMC Cohort
• Brain Donation
• Standard Operating Procedure for Extramural Studies
• Secure Site for ADC Investigators (opens in a new window)

Important investigational drug trials are conducted at the University of Pennsylvania Alzheimer's Disease Center and Penn Memory Center. These include

INFUSION Studies: Elan, and IVIG

Amyloid-beta (Aß) is the pathological protein produced in the brain in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. It forms deposits that are the basis for the neuritic plaques pathologists use to confirm the presence of the disease. These plaques may contribute to neuron loss which results in the memory and cognitive impairments that characterize the disease.

A major aim in the search for effective Alzheimer’s treatment is to develop drugs to prevent and/or eliminate these pathologic deposits from the brains of patients while they are still in the mildest stage of the illness. Preliminary research in both animals and humans suggests that antibodies directed against this pathologic protein can accomplish that goal.

These studies test experimental antibodies aimed at reducing or eliminating amyloid beta in the brain of persons with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

A number of different proteins and enzymes are necesary in the production of amyloid beta. These studies test experimental agents aimed at interfering with particular protiens and enzymes which are necessary in (Aß) production, in persons with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

• For more information on these studies, contact Study Coordinator Jessica Nunez-Lopez, by email jessica.nunez@uphs.upenn.edu, or by phone at 215-662-4379.

• NIH's Clinical Trails Resource webpage - includes "An Introduction to Clinical Trials"
• Connections Vol. 6 No 1, Spring 1997 - Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center's Newsletter contains a concise introduction to clinical research
• "Clinical Trials of Medical Treatments: Why Volunteer?" - An FDA Easy Reader document