Scientists from NYU Langone’s Department of Psychiatry conduct translational research on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias at the Center for Dementia Research (CDR) under the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research. The CDR, led by Ralph A. Nixon, MD, PhD, comprises a faculty of 10 independent principal investigators and a staff of more than 60 scientists conducting studies on etiology, prevention, and the treatment of degenerative diseases.

Research accomplishments by CDR investigators include the discovery of the first amyloid precursor protein mutation in a human disease and the earliest-known disease-specific neuronal cell pathology in a brain with AD. Additional CDR discoveries include novel mechanisms linking genes causing early-onset AD to defects in cellular waste clearance (autophagy), which are the basis of new drug discovery programs worldwide. The paradigm-shifting discovery of novel synaptic roles for neurofilament proteins implicated prominently in neuropsychiatric diseases have revealed new clues to pathogenesis and a basis for the emerging clinical utility of these proteins as disease biomarkers.

Recognized for their innovative conceptual approaches to AD therapy development, CDR researchers continue to receive millions of dollars in National Institutes of Health grants, as well as funding from private institutions and donors.  

According to Google Scholar, CDR research by individual investigators has collectively been cited over 88,000 times over the past decade. 

Research Faculty 

• Pasquale D’Acunzo, PhD
• Stephen D. Ginsberg, PhD
• Ying Jiang, PhD
• Ju-Hyun Lee, PhD
• Efrat Levy, PhD
• Christos Lisgaras, PhD
• Paul M. Mathews, PhD
• Ralph A. Nixon, MD, PhD
• Mala V. Rao, PhD
• Dun-Sheng Yang, PhD 

Grants

Our research is supported by the National Institute on Aging and several foundation grants.

National Institute on Aging

A New Perspective on the Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Alzheimer’s Disease (RF1AG086510; PI: Efrat Levy)

Apolipoprotein E Genotype Modulates Brain Mitovesicle Production, a Component of Mitochondrial Quality Control (RF1 AG088226; PI: Efrat Levy)

High Frequency Oscillations in Alzheimer's Disease (R21 AG086880; PI: Christos Lisgaras)

Impact of Sex Differences on the Trajectory of Interactome Dysfunctions Across the AD Spectrum (R01 AG074004; PI: Stephen D. Ginsberg)

Neuropathology and Inflammation in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Insulin Resistance/Metabolic Syndrome (R01 AG085572; PI: Stephen D. Ginsberg)

Off-the-Shelf CAR-Engineered Macrophage Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease (R61AG090384; PI: Paul M. Matthews)

Selective Interactome Vulnerability Across the Alzheimer’s Disease Spectrum (R01 AG072599; PI: Stephen D. Ginsberg)

Septohippocampal Connectome Dysfunction in Down Syndrome Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease Pathophysiology (RF1 AG077103; PI: Stephen D. Ginsberg)

Foundation Grants

Alzheimer’s Association - Propagation of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Brain by Mitovesicles (stipend award) (AARF-22-923826; PI: Pasquale D’Acunzo)

CHDI Foundation - In Vivo Evaluation and Therapeutic Modulation of Neuronal Autophagy Flux in HD Mouse Models (PI: Ralph A. Nixon)

New Vision Research - The Molecular Basis of Synapse Failure in AD and Related Dementias (PI: Ralph A. Nixon)

Contact Us

For more information about the Department of Psychiatry’s work through the Center for Dementia Research at the Nathan S. Kline Institute, please contact Dr. Nixon at Ralph.Nixon@NYULangone.org, Rosemarie LoFaro, senior administrative assistant, at Rosemarie.LoFaro@NYULangone.org, or Swati Jain, program coordinator, at Swati.Jain@NYULangone.org