Study leaders at new Global Alzheimer’s Network Site Commit to Improving Equity in Florida Alzheimer’s Research
Contact: Peter Buonanno – peterbuonanno@rational360.com – 408-466-5952
Washington, DC (November 18, 2021) – With enrollment in full swing, the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation® (GAP) has announced that K2 Medical Research will join both their GAP-Network of clinical trial sites the team of leading researchers collaborating on the groundbreaking Alzheimer’s Bio-Hermes Study. Bio-Hermes, which seeks to discover cost-effective Alzheimer’s assessment tools, has made the landmark commitment to enroll at least 20% Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino study participants. This level of commitment to a diverse study pool is rarely achieved in medical research (4x the national average), and the study is well on its way towards meeting the recruitment goal.
Orlando seniors who enroll in Bio-Hermes at K2 will receive a study-related PET scan, the gold standard for an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, at no cost to them. This study provides an opportunity for Orlando’s Black and Hispanic seniors to assess their brain health given that they are less likely to receive a timely Alzheimer’s diagnosis despite being more likely (1.5x and 3x respectively) to develop the disease.
“The addition of the K2 site to Bio-Hermes comes at a critical point in the study’s progression,” said John Dwyer, the President of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, the sponsor of the Bio-Hermes study. “As our researchers near the diversity recruitment goal, there is tremendous interest from study participants – especially in central Florida where K2 is located – in Bio-Hermes. K2 will provide access to unique clinical information and research for Orlando area seniors, and we are calling on all of those interested to enroll in the study (whether you are living with Alzheimer’s, have memory concerns, or are completely healthy), Dwyer concluded.
“At K2 we believe that, by focusing on the basics of excellent care, we can breathe new life into Alzheimer’s research – improving the clinical trial experience for everyone involved and potentially transforming how studies are designed and managed,” said Dr. Sheila Baez-Torres of K2 Medical Research. “We hear every day from folks of all backgrounds just how impactful their experience at K2 was during their care journey. The Bio-Hermes Study has the potential to improve the quality of care available to traditionally underrepresented folks and participants will be treated with respect and warmth.”
The K2 clinical team – led by founder Sean Stanton and Bio-Hermes principal investigator Dr. Sheila Baez-Torres – has a combined 70+ years of experience in medical research. The leaders of K2 offer clinical trials as a practical part of the health journey for the local community and those living with Alzheimer’s. And they are committed to improving enrollment from people who are traditionally underrepresented in clinical trials to help make sure that all future Alzheimer’s treatments, therapies, and cures are sensitive and specific to all people.
The K2 team has completed over 5,000 clinical trials – in therapeutic areas from Liver Disease to rare diseases and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
“We need people with memory concerns or those who are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s to enroll in clinical trials,” said John Dwyer, President of GAP. “Bio-Hermes is not an ordinary clinical trial. People who enroll will have a personalized and positive experience. We are proud of our progress thus far and are confident that the fantastic researchers at K2 Medical research will contribute to paving the way for a new industry standard in how clinical trials are run and how participants are included.”
Those interested in learning more about the Bio-Hermes study can visit GAP’s landing page or call K2 Medical Research at (407)-500-5252.
### About the Bio-Hermes Study ###
Bio-Hermes is the first-ever platform study to compare the results of blood and digital biomarker tests, including digital cognitive and voice assessments, with the results of brain amyloid PET scans and traditional cognitive tests. GAP’s Bio-Hermes Study database will allow scientists to assess the ability of each biomarker, or combination of biomarkers, to prognosticate the accumulation of amyloid in the brain – a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Use of biomarkers could lead to earlier and more frequent detection of amyloid in the brain, prompting those affected to seek early intervention, leading to higher quality of care for those living with the disease.
### About the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation® (GAP) ###
The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation® (GAP) is a person-centric nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the delivery of innovative therapies for neurological disorders by reducing the duration and cost of clinical trials. Research centers across the US, Canada, and Europe are part of the growing GAP Network (GAP-Net). GAP supports GAP-Net research centers by assisting with study start up and recruitment activities, promoting diversity in research studies, and offering national programs that champion brain health and the citizen scientists who make research possible.