“Neurodegeneration” is a term that is not widely known to the broader public, but it may be self-explanatory. This refers to disorders in which the brain or other parts of the nervous system are degraded over time, both in structure and function. Most of these diseases are progressive—once started, they continue to get worse over time. As one might expect, they tend to depend somewhat on one’s age. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common—the fourth leading cause of death among American adults—but others are no less tragic. It is generally recognized that our brains are what make humans special, and neurodegeneration erodes the specialness that defines the individuals who are important in our lives, as well as the collective potential of the entire human family.
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people and have devastating personal and societal consequences. These diseases more commonly occur in adults and elderly individuals, and the incidence of these diseases has increased dramatically as lifespan has increased. There are limited treatment options for most neurodegenerative disorders, and thus it is critical that basic science and clinical researchers collaborate to develop novel therapies.
The application I submitted was somewhat specific for brain disorders related to Alzheimer’s disease. The review panel supported combining that with a proposal by Dr. Drew to support research into a broader array of brain disorders. And I think that exemplifies the unifying nature of the Creativity Hub initiative – it is inclusive and collaborative. The projects I felt were important to support have objectives and needs that are shared with others in the College of Medicine that seek to understand the fundamental underpinnings of neurodegeneration.
Dr. Barger
It is a great honor to be selected as an inaugural Creativity Hub. I look forward to working with my friend and colleague Dr. Steve Barger to advance research at UAMS concerning neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Drew
How will the funding and establishment of the hub boost/accelerate the work that is being done in this area?
UAMS has a strong tradition of research and treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. But tradition is easily modified by the changing nature of our funding sources, our workforce, and even the factors that initiate disease. In a word, it boils down to “entropy,” a term that reflects the tendency of organized efforts to become disorganized over time. A fundamental property of entropy is that it can only be overcome with energy. So, it is critical that we respond to the changing nature of medicine energetically. Financial resources are energy, pure and simple. This funding will ensure that we not only maintain traditional strengths but also create new paths of progress through previously unseen opportunities to collaborate. We will learn from each other and pool resources. More specifically, establishment of the hub means that contributions from every member will support the reinvigoration of research expertise in ALS (“Lou Gehrig’s disease”), the renewal of a NIH Program Project Grant on Alzheimer’s, a concrete research effort to support our Movement Disorders Clinic, and greater interaction between neurobiologists and the Psychiatric Research Institute.
Creativity Hub funding is expected to increase extramural grant funding including interdisciplinary collaborative grants and programmatic grants. Funding will also increase collaborative research between basic science and clinical researchers. Furthermore, the funding will facilitate career development and mentoring programs for neurodegeneration researchers including students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty.
Caliber of the UAMS researchers currently working in this area.
Neurodegeneration research has traditionally been a strength at UAMS including a program project on Alzheimer’s disease which has been continuously funded for over two decades. There is also excellent research concerning multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson’s disease and stroke at UAMS. Traditionally, these research teams have largely worked independently, and it is hoped that the Creativity Hub will bring these researchers together to more effectively advance our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.
One of the requirements in the application for a Creativity Hub was documentation of the expertise and accomplishments of the principal human components. This group comprises individuals who have been leaders in their fields throughout their careers. The university’s research office recently made note of the UAMS researchers who were included in a recent ranking of the top 2% of research scientists across all time and geography. Nearly a fifth of those elite individuals from UAMS will be included in the Neurodegeneration Creativity Hub. Sue Griffin, Ph.D., was given the Alzheimer’s Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Gwen Childs, Ph.D., received the George Gomori Award, which amounts to recognition by the national Histochemical Society of their top scientist only once every four years. Lee Archer, M.D., was selected by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for the prestigious designation as “Partner in MS Care.” Dr. Bill Slikker was awarded the Mildred S. Christian Career Achievement Award by the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and the George H. Scott Memorial Award from the Toxicology Forum. Many among our team are or have been officers in national and international scientific organizations, chairs of NIH review panels, and on the editorial boards of major scientific publications. It is also significant that many of the hub’s faculty have been mentors of students who have won their own awards. Furtherance of research education and career advancement will be an important goal of the hub.
Importance of interdisciplinary collaboration
Like most aspects of life, biomedical research is getting increasingly specialized. This is largely just a natural outcome of technological and conceptual sophistication. As knowledge and methodology advance, they get divided into more and more numerous components. So, researchers get deeper and deeper into the granular details of our subfields. It is important to step back and look at the problem from a broader perspective. This is true for the conceptual framework on which the research is hung. And, it is also true in a technical sense. Sometimes, interdisciplinary collaboration will reveal an appropriate methodology that would not have been recognized without the views and experiences of colleagues in diverse fields.
Dr. Barger emphasized the potential for the Creativity Hub initiative to enhance diversity and inclusion. This was a stated objective in the announcement of the program, and He is gratified that components focused on mentoring the next generation of researchers will include active and intentional efforts to overcome the hurdles and stumbling blocks that have traditionally excluded certain classes and groups of people. Among other dividends, this should facilitate the development of research into a wider array of health concerns, to the benefit of all Arkansans.
The breadth and magnitude of neurodegenerative diseases and fact that there are only limited therapies for most neurodegenerative diseases makes it imperative for basic science and clinical researchers to work together to develop new and better treatments as expeditiously as possible.