June 2024
Issue 1
Letter from the President
ACTS is an organization committed to advancing the discipline of clinical and translational science to improving human health through research, education, advocacy and mentoring. To accomplish this broad mission, the Association is expanding collaborations with partner organizations that share these values. To this end, the Association is pleased to highlight our partner organization, the Alzheimer’s Association, in their Brain Awareness Month.
Alzheimer’s Disease is now the seventh leading cause of death in the US and is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. Exciting advances in translational research have produced tools for early detection, risk-stratification and diagnosis. Behavioral and lifestyle modifications have been identified that maintain brain health. New, clinically tested treatments are available that may slow disease progression in selected patients. Despite these impressive advances, early intervention is key. And this depends on community awareness of the disease and how to intervene.
Join the ACTS in supporting June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, by adopting healthy habits for your brain. Raise awareness of the disease by wearing purple in the month of June. Join the fight by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimers®, the Ride to End ALZ® and others. More information can be found at: https://www.alz.org/abam/overview.asp
June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month
This June during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association® is encouraging all Americans to take charge of their brain health.
Today, there are nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s. The lifetime risk for the disease at age 45 is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 10 for men. The brain changes that cause Alzheimer’s are thought to begin 20 years or more before symptoms start, which suggests that there may be a substantial window of time in which we can intervene in the progression of the disease.
Experts believe there isn’t a single cause of Alzheimer’s. It’s likely the disease develops as a result of multiple factors. While not a direct cause of Alzheimer’s, the greatest known risk factor is advancing age. Although some risk factors like age cannot be changed, others — including physical activity, not smoking, education, challenging your mind, blood pressure and diet — may be modified to reduce a person’s risk.
As many as 40% of dementia cases worldwide may be attributable to modifiable risk factors. Based on mounting scientific evidence, the Alzheimer’s Association encourages individuals to incorporate these 10 healthy habits to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and possibly dementia.
Be Proactive in Addressing Brain Changes
Another important way to take charge of your brain health is to know the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementia and be proactive in addressing them.
Early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other dementia offers the best opportunity for care, management and treatment. It also provides diagnosed individuals more time to plan for the future, participate in clinical trials and to live with a higher quality of life, for as long as possible.
There are now treatments that may slow disease progression for people in the early stage of Alzheimer’s, making a timely diagnosis critically important. If you or a family is experiencing memory or thinking problems, it is important to get it checked. Talk to your doctor so you can make an informed decision on available treatments to determine if they are right for you.
Join the Fight to End Alzheimer's
During Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association invites everyone to join us in the fight to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Here’s what you can do:
- Adopt the 10 Healthy Habits: It is never too early or too late to start taking positive actions for your brain. Visit alz.org/healthyhabits to learn more!
- Go purple: On June 1 and throughout the month, go purple — the color of the Alzheimer’s movement — to raise awareness of the disease. Dress in purple and share your story on social media using the hashtag #ENDALZ.
- Join the fight: Advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association by participating in our signature fundraising events — Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, The Longest Day® and Ride to End ALZ®. Visit alz.org/fundraisingevents.
- Volunteer with us: As an Alzheimer’s Association volunteer, you can help people in your community take steps to reduce their dementia risk and recognize the signs of Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org/volunteer.
- Advocate: Urge lawmakers to pass the bipartisan BOLD Reauthorization Act, to continue strengthening the dementia public health infrastructure in communities nationwide. Visit alzimpact.org/BOLD_Reauthorization.
- Accelerate research: Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch® is a free, easy-to-use service that connects individuals living with Alzheimer's, caregivers and healthy volunteers to clinical trials that may advance Alzheimer's research. Visit alz.org/trialmatch.
- Donate: Empower people at every age and stage of life to take charge of their brain health — support the Alzheimer’s Association! Visit alz.org/donate.
We are proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia. To learn more visit alz.org/abam.
NIH Request for Information
NIH is proposing to develop and implement a new policy within the NIH’s Intramural Research Program, the internal research arm of the agency. The policy would require organizations partnering with NIH through a patent licensing agreement that succeed in bringing certain products to market to submit a plan outlining steps they intend to take to promote patient access to any resulting drug, biologic, vaccine, or device. NIH seeks input on this draft policy and accompanying draft license agreement language that incorporates patient access in the commercialization process for NIH-owned inventions.
NIH will use the responses to this request for information to develop a final policy. Comments must be received by July 22, 2024.
Member Highlight: Chris Lindsell, PhD
Former ACTS President and current Editor in Chief to the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (JCTS) Chris Lindsell, PhD was recently interviewed for the Cambridge Core blog about his work for the journal. He spoke at length about the benefits JCTS provides to authors and readers alike.
When asked what separates JCTS from other academic journals, Chris said "JCTS is the only journal that emphasizes clinical and translational science – the science behind the systems, methods, processes, and infrastructure by which clinical and translational research occurs... It is an incredibly broad, interdisciplinary journal, exposing both novice and experienced investigators to the full breadth of research methods and processes, and to the full array of best practices for developing facilitative infrastructures and overcoming translational roadblocks."
Special Interest Groups
ACTS offers its members the opportunity to participate in Special Interest Groups (SIGs) related to the field of clinical research and translational science. SIGs connect individuals who share similar goals and interests, providing a channel to network and participate in knowledge and resource sharing among peers.
Learning Library
The ACTS Learning Library is the centralized location for all ACTS educational offerings, including partner webinars and past Translational Science recordings. ACTS members receive complimentary access to webinars and recordings.
Translational Science Today
Teasing apart sex differences in heart disease
DeLisa Fairweather, Ph.D., and the students in her lab are identifying biological sex differences to help in the diagnosis and treatment of the deadly heart disease myocarditis.