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Blood-based Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers: Updates and Opportunities

Posted on by Josee Meehan

This presentation reviewed recent updates in the development and clinical implementation of blood-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers. The first half of the talk covered current appropriate use guidelines, how these assays may impact clinical care, and new developments in prognostic biomarkers for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. The presentation also addressed emerging research questions and opportunities in the field.

The second half of the presentation focused on results from a study examining methods for disclosing blood-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarker results to cognitively unimpaired older adults. By the end of the presentation, attendees had an opportunity to better understand the current state of the science for these biomarker tests and identify research opportunities to support their appropriate clinical implementation and enhance clinical trial design.

Webinar Slides

Speakers

Kyra O'Brien, MD, MSH
Assistant Professor of Neurology
University of Pennsylvania

Claire Erickson, PhD, MPA
Staff Scientist
Banner Alzheimer's Institute

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the current landscape of blood-based Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, including their clinical utility
  • Describe the potential applications of blood-based Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in clinical trial design
  • Identify knowledge gaps regarding use of blood-based Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in cognitively unimpaired individuals

Announcing Call for Applications for 2027 ePCT Training Workshop

Posted on by Josee Meehan

The IMPACT Collaboratory will hold the 2027 virtual ePCT Training Workshop on January 27-28, 2027, entitled .

This  free 1.5-day workshop features all new material to build a foundation in practical aspects of designing and conducting ePCTs in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD). The workshop includes a combination of engaging activities, panel discussions, small group sessions, and networking opportunities with experts in the field.

2027 Modules

  • Module 1: Establishing Intervention Readiness & Feasibility for an ePCT
  • Module 2: Leveraging Real-World Data for ePCTs
  • Module 3: Developing Implementation Strategies and Evaluation Plans for ePCTs

We invite applications from early to mid-career researchers seeking to develop expertise in designing and conducting ePCTs of non-pharmacological interventions embedded in health care systems (HCS) for PLWD and care partners.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

  • MD, PhD, or equivalent degree
  • Holds a full-time position at an academic or research organization in the United States
  • Early to mid-career investigators seeking to build expertise in ePCTs in AD/ADRD

Applicants will be selected based on their demonstrated commitment to improving care of PLWD and/or their care partners through the design and conduct of ePCTs in HCS, as well as the potential for the workshop to advance their careers in this area.

Successful applicants will be expected to complete selected readings and online training prior to the workshop. All participants are expected to attend and participate in the entire 1.5-day event.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your online application using the following link:

IMPACT Training Workshop Application

Deadline: October 20, 2026

(IMPACT trainees and awardees do not need to apply).

Find the working agenda and more information about the workshop on our website at impactcollaboratory.org/training-workshop.

Email IMPACTcollaboratory@hsl.harvard.edu with questions regarding this opportunity.

Visit IMPACTcollaboratory.org to learn more about our Grants and Training Programs.

 

 

 

 

ePCTs and Health System Ethical Obligations

Posted on by Josee Meehan

May 2026 - Grand Rounds 66

Pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) embed research into clinical care. This deliberate research-care integration means that health care institutions are key partners for PCTs. Prior literature has identified several ethical challenges in PCTs for which institutional involvement is a necessary condition for their resolution. However, no comprehensive account exists to describe the moral obligations of health care institutions for PCTs. In this talk, I will introduce a framework of ten obligations for institutions when leading or participating in PCTs, and the corresponding practical implications for the ethical conduct of embedded PCTs.

Speakers

Stephanie Morain, PhD, MPH 
Associate Professor of Health Policy & Management
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Dracopoulos Rising Professor of Bioethics, Berman Institute of Bioethics

Webinar Slides

Learning Objectives

  • Identify ethical challenges arising in embedded pragmatic clinical trials that require institutional involvement for appropriate ethical management.
  • Identify ethical obligations for health care institutions when participating in or leading embedded pragmatic clinical trials.
  • Describe practical strategies for supporting the ethical conduct of embedded pragmatic clinical trials.

Notice of Intent to publish two Requests for Applications!

Posted on by Josee Meehan

The IMPACT Collaboratory will publish Requests for Applications (RFA) for The James L. Rudolph Career Development Award and Pilot ePCT Grants of non-pharmacological interventions for people living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners in June 2026.

 Pilot Grants Program

IMPACT will fund up to three awards for pilot embedded pragmatic trials (ePCTs) that are designed to demonstrate the feasibility and inform the design of a future full-scale ePCT to evaluate non-pharmacological interventions embedded in health care system(s) for PLWD and their care partners.  Learn more about previous awardees here.

James L. Rudolph Career Development Award Program

IMPACT will fund up to two awards for Career Development Awards to prepare emerging investigators to lead ePCTs that improve care for PLWD and their care partners. Learn more about previous awardees here.

Notice of Intent (NOI) to Publish Two Funding Opportunities in June 2026
Pilot ePCT Grants

Goal: To demonstrate the feasibility of a future full-scale ePCT of a non-pharmacological intervention for PLWD and their care partners.

Informational Webinar
June 11, 2026 @ 2pm ET

Register here

Letters of Intent Due
July 23, 2026 @ 11:59pm ET

 James L. Rudolph Career Development Awards

 Goal: To support the career development of early-stage investigators conducting preparatory research to advance future ePCTs to improve care for PLWD and their care partners.

Informational Webinar
June 23, 2026 @ 4pm ET

Register here

Applications Due
September 10, 2026 @ 6pm ET

Stay tuned for updates regarding the release of these RFAs.

Questions? Email us at IMPACTcollaboratory@hsl.harvard.edu.

D-CARE: Results of a Pragmatic Intervention Trial and Implications for the GUIDE model

Posted on by Josee Meehan

April 16, 2026 – Grand Rounds 65

D-CARE, the Dementia Care Study funded by PCORI and NIA is the largest pragmatic, randomized clinical trial of dementia care, to date. Although the primary outcomes of person living with dementia behavioral symptoms and caregiver stress did not differ between health system-based, community-based, and usual dementia care, caregiver self-efficacy, satisfaction, and perceived quality of dementia care were higher in both treatment groups compared to usual care. These findings and their implications for dementia care and Medicare's GUIDE program will be discussed.

April 2026 Grand Rounds Webinar Slides

David Reuben, MD

Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine
UCLA

Jeff Williamson, MD, MHS 

Professor, Chief of Geriatric Medicine, and Director for the Center for Healthcare Innovation at Wake Forest School of Medicine

Learning Objectives

  • To understand the differences between health system-based and community-based dementia care.
  • To recognize the differences between structured dementia care programs and usual care.
  • To interpret the implication of D-CARE's findings on dementia care and Medicare's GUIDE program.

Identifying and Engaging Care Partners through Electronic Health Records for Pragmatic Research

Posted on by Josee Meehan

March 2026 – Grand Rounds 64, IMPACT PCRO Core member Dr. Hillary Lum and guest speakers Drs. Julia Burgdorf and Jenny Portz, and Jody Long present on “Identifying and Engaging Care Partners through Electronic Health Records for Pragmatic Research.”

Webinar Slides

Hillary Lum, MD, PhD

IMPACT Patient/Caregiver Relevant Outcomes Core

Professor of Medicine, Division
of Geriatric Medicine,
Department of Medicine,
University of Colorado Anschutz

Jenny Portz, PhD, MSW

Associate Professor, General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz

Julia Burgdorf, PhD

Research Scientist, Center for Home Care Policy & Research at VNS Health

Jody Long, MSN, MBA, RN, CEN

Director of Clinical Affairs, PointClickCare

Learning Objectives

  • Communicate the need and promise for improvement of dementia care with embedded pragmatic trials within dynamic health care settings.
  • Review what we have found to be key components of ePCT trial design and conduct for ensuring that study results are implementable.
  • Provide learnings of two ePCT trialists from The Dementia Care Study: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial of Health System-Based Versus Community-Based Dementia Care (D-CARE)

 

IMPACT Awardee Earns Pilot Grant to Study Dementia Care Quality

Posted on by Josee Meehan

IMPACT Career Development Awardee Erica Frechman, PhD, AGPCNP-BC was awarded a Pilot Grant from the National Dementia Workforce Study for her study, Advance Practice Providers and Dementia Care: Role of Training, Preparedness, and Practice Setting for Patient Outcomes. IMPACT executive committee member Jennifer Gabbard, MD is a co-investigator for this study.

Frechman’s study will leverage the Community Clinician survey and CMS claims data to examine APPs and how their dementia-specific training, preparedness, and practice settings are associated with meaningful variation in care quality and outcomes for people living with dementia.

Learn more about Pilot Grant awardees here.