Bridging Minds: The CADRC REC Mini-Symposium Series
The Research Education Component (REC) Mini-Symposium series is designed to spark collaboration among clinical and basic researchers in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). Hosted in a “cybrid” (hybrid) format, these sessions bring together local trainees and national REC Scholars to share cutting-edge findings and foster professional growth.
The REC Scholar Exchange Program
This series is bolstered by our Exchange Program, which supports in-person visits between Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) nationwide. By traveling to partner institutions, our scholars gain specialized training in areas like protein misfolding and mitochondrial dysfunction while building a national professional network.
2025–2026 Symposium Schedule
| Date | Theme | Lead Organizer | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2025 | Innate Immune Signaling | Dr. Nikhil Panicker | Featured Dr. Wade Self (WashU) on Gut Microbes and Tau-Mediated Neurodegeneration. |
| January 16, 2026 | Glial Contributions to Neurological Disease | Dr. Ben Clayton | Featured Dr. Holly Gildea (NYU) on How Aging Disrupts Astrocyte Lipid Metabolism |
| February 20, 2026 | Dysregulation of RNA Metabolism and RNA Epigenetics in Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration | Dr. Fanpeng Zhao | Featured Dr. Yuan Liu (Indiana University) on The Landscape of Noncoding RNA and Post Transcriptional Regulation in Alzheimer’s Disease |
| March 20, 2026 | Dysregulated Gene Expressions in Aging and Neurodegeneration | Dr. Di Hu | Will feature Dr. Riley Kemna (University of Kansas) on Bioenergetic Contributions to Tau Phosphorylation and Expression |
| April 24, 2026 | Health equity in Alzheimer’s disease and Related disorders | Dr. Carol Chan | Will feature Dr. Niying Li (University of Georgia) on Invisible Work and Visible Barriers: Connecting Caregiver Navigation Challenges to Geographic Disparities in ADRD Care |
Session Deep-Dives
April 24, 2026: Health equity in Alzheimer’s disease and Related disorders
Join us for our fourth installment featuring:
Past Highlights
Winter 2025/26 Recap: Our first four sessions saw incredible engagement from the Cleveland research community. From Dr. Wade Self’s visit from Washington University to discuss gnotobiotic mouse models, to Dr. Holly Gildea’s virtual insights into astrocyte metabolism, these events are successfully bridging the gap between local graduate students and national experts.
