CBR Distinguished Visitor Program – Inaugural Lecture

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The Centre for Brain Research (CBR) cordially invites you to attend the inaugural lecture of the CBR Distinguished Visitor Program, generously supported by Ms Nirmala Govindan Pullur.

Title: Advancing Alzheimer’s Intervention Trials: Blood Biomarkers and Algorithms for Participant Selection
Speaker: Professor Rema Raman, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
Date: 18 December 2024, Wednesday
Time: 3 – 4 PM, followed by High Tea
Venue: CBR Auditorium

 Abstract:

The success of intervention trials in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) depends on the accurate identification and enrollment of eligible study participants. Ensuring the inclusion of diverse sub-populations is crucial for improving the external validity and generalizability of study findings. This inclusivity is also essential in longitudinal cohort studies, which often inform the design of adequately powered AD trials. The advent of minimally invasive and safe blood biomarkers has transformed the trial screening process, providing a more efficient, less burdensome, cost-effective, and accessible means for participant identification. Simultaneously, statistical algorithms are increasingly being leveraged to identify individuals who meet the inclusion criteria of preclinical AD trials. By integrating blood biomarkers with machine learning models, these algorithms provide an accurate prediction of amyloid PET eligibility in preclinical AD populations. Using data from ongoing studies, this talk will explore the evolving role of blood biomarkers and statistical algorithms in improving participant selection accuracy for preclinical AD trials and assess their applicability across diverse sub-populations.

Speaker’s profile:

Dr Rema Raman is a Professor of Neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), where she also serves as the Director of Biostatistics and of Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention at the USC Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI). She holds a PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr Raman plays a pivotal role in the NIH-funded Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium, where she co-leads the Biostatistics, Recruitment, Engagement & Retention (RER), and Inclusion, Diversity, and Education in Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials (IDEA-CT) Units. She is also the co-director of the NIA- and Alzheimer’s Association-funded IMPACT-AD program, which is dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of clinical trials leaders and research teams. A recognized expert in biostatistics and clinical trials methodology, Dr Raman’s work focuses on innovative trial design, statistical modeling, and advancing the inclusion of diverse populations in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative research.

—- ALL ARE WELCOME—-

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