The CADRC is gaining serious momentum, thanks to a powerful alliance between WD Detailing, Porsche Beachwood, and the Northern Ohio Region Porsche Club of America (NORPCA).

From a High-Octane Launch...
The journey began on January 16th with a high-energy kickoff at Porsche Beachwood. This event officially launched our joint fundraising drive, which aims to raise $75,000 to support two critical pillars of our mission:

• Community Outreach ($25,000): Funding a full year of awareness efforts and 25+ community events across Northeast Ohio.
• Advanced Research Support ($50,000): Covering vital diagnostics (brain scans, genetic testing) and transportation for 50 CADRC research participants.

...To a Growing Community
The momentum continued on March 28th at the NORPCA New Member Party. With over 230 members in attendance, the atmosphere was electric as the club welcomed its newest enthusiasts.

The CADRC was honored to be a part of the celebration. Dr. Babak Tousi, CADRC Research Education Component co-investigator, took to the podium to deliver an eye-opening presentation on the importance of brain health and the life-saving research happening right here in Cleveland. Despite the lively (and loud!) crowd, those who gathered to hear Dr. Tousi walked away with a deeper understanding of why this cause is so urgent.

Beyond the presentation, our team was on the ground with an informational display, connecting directly with club members to share resources, answer questions, and collect pledges for the ongoing drive.

Help us Cross the Finish Line
We are incredibly grateful to our partners at WD Detailing, Porsche Beachwood, and NORPCA for their dedication to health equity and research. But we aren’t at the finish line yet!

You can help us reach our $75,000 goal:

• Donate Online: Give to the WD Detailing/Porsche Drive
• Other Ways to Give: For other ways to contribute, please download the commitment form below

Together, we are revving up the search for a cure. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

At the CADRC we are committed to moving research out of the lab and into the heart of our neighborhoods. We were pleased to partner with the Warrensville Heights Senior Center for a recent 'Lunch and Learn' on March 24. We were thrilled to be invited to their location to connect with local seniors...for an afternoon of education and health advocacy.

A Focus on Brain Health
Dr. Rajeet Shrestha, a CADRC Clinical Core investigator, led an insightful presentation titled "Brain Health and Dementia: New Frontiers in Treatments and Research."

Supporting Community Health
This event was made possible through a grant from the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation, which was awarded to Dr. Carolyn Still, the Assistant Dean for Research and an Associate Professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

With Sincere Thanks
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this afternoon a success:

• To the Warrensville Heights Senior Center and their Program Manager for hosting us and coordinating such a fantastic turnout.
• To Dr. Rajeet Shrestha for sharing his expertise and the latest advancements in dementia research
• To Dr. Carolyn Still and the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation for providing the support necessary to bring these vital health resources into the community.
• And to the attendees, whose engagement and commitment to their health continue to inspire our work at the CADRC.

We look forward to continuing these important conversations as we work together toward a healthier future.

Tell me about yourself and how you are involved with the Cleveland Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (CADRC)?
I am a physician by training, holding an MBBS from India and a master’s degree in health informatics from Indiana University. Currently, I work as an Imaging Analyst in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. My work is closely aligned with brain health research, specifically using brain scans to study diseases like Alzheimer's.

What are your main activities and goals as they relate to brain health?
At the Cleveland Clinic, I mainly focus on analyzing PET scans that look at two key proteins associated with Alzheimer's: amyloid and tau. Ultimately, the goal of this work is to ensure these imaging tools are accurate and meaningful, so they can better support groundbreaking research and future patient care. The goal is to find measurements that truly reflect the biology of the disease while remaining consistent across different datasets. Ultimately, we want to establish concrete, standardized ways to interpret these scans to support more accurate disease tracking.

How do you see research in brain health/Alzheimer’s Disease/dementia evolving in the next 2-5 years?
Looking at the broader field of brain health, we are going to see a major shift toward standardizing how we use these brain scans. There will be a growing emphasis on catching the disease early through subtle imaging changes and on combining multiple types of patient data. Finally, tracking disease progression over time, rather than just providing a one-time diagnosis, will become central to our work. Ensuring these methods are consistent and usable in real-world clinics will be critical for the field’s progress.

Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for students or young researchers who wish to get more involved in brain health research?
For students and young researchers, it is vital to build a strong foundation in both the clinical and technical sides of the field. Understanding the actual disease processes in Alzheimer’s and related disorders is essential, as it ensures your data work remains connected to real patient needs. At the same time, developing your skills in data analysis and medical imaging will allow you to work effectively with complex, real-world datasets.

Source: the National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/clinical-trials-and-studies/why-join-clinical-trial-or-study

Interested in learning more about the CADRC and procedures involved? View the videos on our website!