Friedman Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Knight ADRC at Washington University School of Medicine

The focus of Dr. Morris' research and practice is Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders associated with aging. Specific research interests include improving the diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's disease, clinicopathological correlations in dementing disorders, evaluating new drugs for the treatment of dementia, establishing phenotypes for inherited forms of Alzheimer disease and other dementias, and identifying preclinical stages of Alzheimer disease by biomarker and neuroimaging studies.

Associate Professor and Chief of Cognitive Neurology Rutgers-RWJ Medical School

Dr. Hu is also a physician-scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of dementia research. While still a neurology resident, he was the first to identify the brain region in Alzheimer’s disease where a pathology more commonly seen in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), TDP-43, first appeared. The staging scheme he proposed remains in use across neuropathologic laboratories. After beginning his own research laboratory in 2020, he was the first to develop a reliable diagnostic test for FTD due to TDP-43 which has been replicated by four other groups; show that Black/African Americans have different cerebrospinal fluid profiles of Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation than White Americans, a finding which has significant implication in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in Black/African Americans; and identify important methods to better understand the intersection between brain dysfunction and inflammation across multiple diseases.

Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Public Health

Jason D. Flatt, PhD, MPH (Pronouns: He/Him/They/Them) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Health. Jason’s $1.4 million-funded research portfolio works to better understand health concerns and needs of diverse sexual and gender minorities or LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual as well as additional identities) people living with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and their care providers. Jason is currently Co-Principal Investigator of The National Institute on Aging-funded study to recruit and engage LGBTQIA+ people with memory loss and their care partners into The RISE (Research Inclusion Supports Equity) Registry.

Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Department of Neurology, Washington University

Dr. Babulal’s research goals include, (1) characterizing functional changes in older adults using AD biomarkers (e.g. structural and functional imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, plasma), (2) predicting decline in behavior via standard and novel methodologies, (3) identifying noncognitive behavioral markers that predict preclinical AD, and (4) developing/validating effective strategies to improve and prolong functional outcomes. Additionally, Dr. Babulal’s work resides in the assessment of how social determinants of health, including discrimination, depression, and chronic stress impact health, and well-being in older adults and underrepresented minoritized groups.

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Neurological Sciences, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush Medical College

Dr. Crystal M. Glover is an applied social psychologist, mixed methodologist, and health equity in aging researcher at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (and) Neurological Sciences in Rush Medical College. She also leads the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. Dr. Glover’s areas of interest include health equity and health disparities; structural and psychosocial determinants of health including socioeconomic status and psychological wellbeing; intersectionality as a conceptual framework and methodology; and social cognitive processes such as attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions. She focuses her research and related efforts on understanding and facilitating cognitive and healthy aging across all demographic groups but with a special concentration on collaborating with and inclusion of members of African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino communities that have been inequitably included and traditionally understudied in aging research.

Jesmer Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, and Cognitive Neuropsychologist, Rush Alzheimer Disease Center

Dr. Lisa L. Barnes is internationally recognized for her contributions to minority aging and minority health. Her research interests include disparities in chronic diseases of aging, cognitive decline, and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. She is the Principal Investigator of two longitudinal community-based studies of older African Americans, including the Minority Aging Research Study (MARS), which has been funded by NIA since 2004 and the African American Clinical Core which she has led since 2008. She advocates for recruitment of under-represented groups into clinical studies and has received many awards and fellowships from universities and organizations throughout the U.S.

Project Manager, Knight ADRC, Washington University School of Medicine

Marissa Streitz, MSW, LCSW is a Project Manager at the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center at the Washington University School of Medicine and has 10 years of geriatric social work experience. Marissa's research interests include disparities in healthy aging and social determinants of health. Marissa has published in such journals as Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, and Patient Education and Counseling.

Assistant Professor and Director, Collaborative on Aging Research and Multicultural Assessment (CARMA), University Houston

Dr. Luis D. Medina is a licensed clinical psychologist and cultural neuropsychologist. His research examines the cultural neuroscience of cognitive aging, particularly in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), as well as the clinical assessment and diagnosis of ADRD in underrepresented populations.

St. Louis Community Leader and Chair, Knight ADRC African American Advisory Board, Washington University School of Medicine

The focus of Pastor Douglass Petty's contribution to research in Alzheimer's disease and related diseases (ADRD) is his long-time involvement in and current chairing of the Knight ADRC African American Advisory Board. The Board advises the Knight ADRC on strategies to improve recruitment and retention of historically minoritized groups in ADRD research.

Associate Professor, Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis

Darrell Hudson’s research focuses on racial/ethnic health disparities and the role of social determinants of health, particularly how socioeconomic position and social context affect health and health disparities. He is currently investigating why data show that African Americans — despite bearing a disproportionate burden of physical health disparities and greater exposure to stress — have lower rates of depression compared to white Americans.

Professor, Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, and Executive Director, Institute for Translational Research, University of North Texas Health Science Center

Dr. O'Bryant is focused on identifying precision medicine approaches to dealing with brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Down syndrome, Dementia with Lewy bodies and others. He believes that, through novel collaborative science, together we can bring better tools to health care providers helping patients and families.

Associate Professor, Institute for Health & Aging, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco

Dr. Portacolone has research experience in studying cognitive impairment, older adults who are racial/ethnic minorities, innovative recruitment strategies, as well as artificial intelligence and other technologies to support people with cognitive impairment age in place. She has led six investigations that focus on identifying barriers and facilitators to acute and long-term services and supports, increasing engagement of racial/ethnic minorities in dementia research, social integration, and emergency preparedness in vulnerable older adults, the majority of them living alone. The majority of study participants in her studies belong to racial/ethnic minorities. She has received extensive training in cognitive impairment, ethics, and advanced qualitative methods, as well as mixed methods.

Associate Professor of Health, Risk and Science Communication, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication and at the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH), Washington State University

Dr. Boyd works with Indigenous communities throughout the United States and Canada to examine the impact of communications on risk perceptions and behavior. Through this work, she aims to develop the tools and theory needed to create effective, culturally relevant communications that improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous populations.