2023 Honoree

Nominated by
Charter Research
Winter Park, Florida

Sheila didn’t tell anyone outside her immediate family about her Parkinson’s diagnosis for years, as she was scared that others would change their opinions of her and see her differently. After ‘coming out’ to raise money for an annual Parkinson’s walk, people did start to see her differently, but not in the way she thought. Sheila decided early after her diagnosis that she was going to do everything she could to delay and degeneration. She boxes, she does Pilates, she is a mentor, she is an active mother, and splits time between Nashville, Tennessee and Winter Park, Florida without missing a study visit. Her friends and family had no idea that was she diagnosed and saw a woman of strength and courage, not someone sick or weak.

Sheila’s calls Charter Research a ‘special place’ and is beloved by all the staff there, several of whom teared up when telling GAP her story. They see someone as dedicated to progressing research as them, as Sheila has created ‘pouches’ to hold her infusion medication without inhibiting her daily life and fashion styles. Her ‘research’ is shared with the Charter team and sent to study sponsors to make the medication easier to use and more accessible. The Charter team says that her positivity and mentorship to other volunteers contributes not just to Parkinson’s research but the community at large, and they wish they had more patients like her.

"The possibility that all of us can be helped is my driving force. I would do anything to progress the research."

2023 Honoree

Nominated by
Visionary Investigators Network
Miami, Florida

For Joanne, her husband Jerome’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis was simply another part of their journey together. The future might look a little different than they thought but it was still going to be something they did together.

Joanne’s mission now, besides being a caretaker for Jerome, is to ‘open the door to hope’ for other families, especially those in Black and Brown communities who know there is a history of mistreatment in medicine for people who look like them. She sees and understands their hesitations and worries but connects them with the team at Visionary Investigators Network (VIN) because of the help they provide. She makes sure that she’s providing education and resources, and credits the VIN team with their professionalism and dedication for taking it the rest of the way.

Being involved in research has made life with Alzheimer’s ‘better than [she] thought it would be’. Because of research, Joanne says her being a caregiver is easy. She was shocked to hear of her nomination, and then selection, for the Citizen Scientist Awards® as she doesn’t think she’s done anything special. She says that she does what any caregiver, any study partner, and person who loves their spouse would do.

"We had nothing to lose and everything to gain from being involved in a study. It’s the first step in the journey and it’s an easy decision made on optimism and realism."

2023 Honoree

Nominated by
Syrentis Clinical Research
Santa Ana, California

Jeannie found Syrentis Clinical Research on her own after suffering from two strokes and hearing that Alzheimer’s research was an option for her. She typed ‘Alzheimer’s research near me’ into Google and three nearby clinics came up. She called two who didn’t answer, but Syrentis did.

Since then, Jeannie has been actively involved in several trials. She has had many days where she’s spent over eight hours at the clinic completing infusions, cognitive exams, and brain scans. She doesn’t consider these days poorly spent; she greatly enjoys spending time with the Syrentis team and, as a professional baker, often brings in baked goods for the staff. Syrentis considers Jeannie and her husband, Jeff, as part of the family and they were even invited to Jeannie’s birthday party in September.

As a member of the Orange County Mustang Club for over 30 years, raising money and awareness for charities throughout Orange County, California, there was never any doubt that she would volunteer for Alzheimer’s research if she could. Though Jeannie says she said she ‘felted cheated’ after receiving her diagnosis, she now takes it in stride and says that she has never changed her mind about being a trial and that everyone ay Syrentis is rooting for their volunteers.

"Never once have I ever changed my mind about being in a clinical trial. Everyone there is rooting for you, and everything being done benefits you."

2023 Honoree

Nominated by
CenExel iResearch Atlanta
Decatur, Georgia

After experiencing some lapses in memory and knowing that he had a family history of dementia, Rod decided to get involved in research and has been actively enrolled in several trials since 2019.

The team at iResearch Atlanta defines Rod’s recruitment efforts as ‘old school’. He takes their research site’s business cards, study brochures, and pamphlets from newspaper clippings around the community with him so he’s always prepared to talk about Alzheimer’s research. iResearch says that Rod has given a face to research in their community and helps make sure that people who aren’t able to navigate online platforms are still informed of their options.

With a large, blended family, Rod is hopeful that his participation will help him and future generations, and that they know research is out there and that they can be a part of it.

"I committed to Alzheimer’s research because it is one of the most important fields right now and I wanted to be a part of it."