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Press Releases


Spartan Bioscience Partners with the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation to Accelerate Alzheimer’s Research

Ottawa, Canada (July 31, 2019) – Spartan Bioscience announced a partnership with the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation® (GAP) to help recruit possible study participants and accelerate Alzheimer’s clinical trials. Through the partnership, Spartan will donate $5 from each sale of its rapid Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genetic pre-screening test to the GAP Transportation Program, which is powered by Lyft. GAP and Spartan are both seeking ways to improve enrollment in Alzheimer’s clinical trials.

To read the full release, click here.


Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Honors More Than 100 Clinical Trial Participants During National Citizen Scientist Week.

Washington, DC (June 17, 2019) – June 17-21, 2019 is the first ever National Citizen Scientist Week, a time to honor people who volunteer for Alzheimer’s research and inspire hope for new therapies for the disease. To celebrate the contributions of the remarkable volunteers who are participating in Alzheimer’s clinical trials, the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) is recognizing more than 100 Citizen Scientist® research participants nominated from its 73 affiliated Alzheimer’s research centers (GAP-Net).

To read the full release, click here


Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Commends National Institute on Aging for Advancing Its 2025 Goal by Funding a Diversified Portfolio of Studies

Washington, DC (May 20, 2019) – The President of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP), John Dwyer, today issued the following statement:

““The nearly six million Americans with Alzheimer’s and their families deserve for no scientific stone to go unturned in the search for a cure. The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation commends the National Institute on Aging for funding an expanded portfolio of later stage clinical trials. There is a large group of innovative Phase 2 therapeutic candidates that must be pursued to determine whether they represent promising potential cures for Alzheimer’s. NIA funding directed at such trials is critical to achieving the NIA’s stated goal to effectively treat the disease by 2025 and accelerate the delivery of new drugs to Alzheimer’s patients. Grants like the NIA’s $9 million multiyear grant to T3D Therapeutics for its Phase 2 study of T3D-959 play a pivotal role in advancing the Alzheimer’s disease drug development pipeline. GAP applauds the NIA’s efforts and encourages the Institute to expand its activities in this area.”

To read the full statement, click here


Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Commends Commissioner Seema Verma and CMS for New Medicare Advantage Benefits and Payment Policies That Will Improve the Care Of Beneficiaries At Risk For Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias

Washington, DC (April 10, 2019) – The President of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP), John Dwyer, today issued the following statement:

“The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation thanks Commissioner Seema Verma and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its thoughtful and impactful leadership in implementing policies that will improve Medicare Advantage beneficiaries’ ability to maintain their memory fitness by expanding supplemental benefits programs that will support memory fitness and brain health programs. In addition, Medicare Advantage has implemented changes in the 2020 payment schedule that will substantially improve the detection, diagnosis and care of patients with dementia. The policies are contained in the 2020 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement and Final Call Letter announced April 1, 2019. “

To read the full statement, click here.


GAP Foundation Unveils Roadmap for Increasing Participation in Alzheimer’s Research

GAP President Calls Memory Fitness Programs Through Medicare Advantage “a Game-Changer”

Nashville (February 28, 2019) – Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) President John Dwyer today announced a roadmap for increasing participation in Alzheimer’s clinical trials by supporting and collaborating with memory fitness supplemental benefit programs offered through select Medicare Advantage plans across the United States. Dwyer made the announcement in a speech to more than 150 experts on Alzheimer’s clinical trials from GAP’s network of more than 70 affiliated public, private and academic sites (GAP-Net) during the third annual GAP-Net Site Optimization Conference at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University.

To read the full release, click here


Leading Alzheimer’s Researchers Coming to Nashville for
GAP-Net Site Optimization Conference

Researchers, recruiters, and CEOs from more than 70 Alzheimer’s clinical trial sites to share strategies on finding a cure for the deadly disease

From February 27 – March 1, the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP), an organization dedicated to speeding and improving Alzheimer’s clinical trials in pursuit of a cure, will convene more than 150 representatives from its network (GAP-Net) of 70+ Alzheimer’s clinical research sites at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University. The conference is an opportunity for leading public, private and academic research institutes across the United States and Canada to exchange strategies on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, which has proven elusive due to the challenge of recruiting and retaining clinical trial volunteers.

To read the full advisory, click here.


Barrow Receives $100,000 Grant for Alzheimer’s Program

Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation recognizes strong, expanding research

WASHINGTON, DC (February 19, 2019) – The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) announced a $100,000 grant to the Barrow Neurological Foundation to optimize and support the Alzheimer’s clinical trials program at Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. The grant will go toward participant retention efforts, staff education programs, improving productivity and building a database for clinical trial recruitment.

To read the full release, click here.


$90,000 GAP Grant to Toronto Memory Program Funds Alzheimer’s Education & Outreach

Grant Funds January 28 Community Event at Ontario Science Centre and Expanded Clinical Trial Education Programs

TORONTO (January 22, 2019) -The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation and Toronto Memory Program have initiated a multi-faceted project to educate the Ontario community about Alzheimer’s disease, brain health and the role of Alzheimer’s clinical trials. Toronto Memory Program is a member of the GAP-Net network of 70 prominent research sites working with the nonprofit Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation to speed and improve clinical trials.

Read the full release here.


Chicago Event to Encourage Participation in Alzheimer’s Clinical Research

Event is on November 8, Chicago Alzheimer’s Awareness Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 2, 2018) – On November 8th – Chicago Alzheimer’s Awareness Day – Great Lakes Clinical Trials and the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation are hosting a major community event for people in the community who are interested in learning more about memory concerns and Alzheimer’s disease. Research volunteers, including care partners, are being honored and celebrated, and will share their personal stories and motivation for volunteering. People from the community will have the opportunity to have their memory screened, swab for a genetic test or talk to a doctor about brain health.

Read the full advisory here.


Statement from Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation on the National Strategy for Recruitment and Participation in Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Research
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 19, 2018) – “I would like to thank the National Institute on Aging for its thoughtful work on the national strategy. More effective recruitment means faster trials and getting approved therapies to market years sooner. The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation is pleased to join in this effort by building a better research infrastructure through GAP-NET, its network of leading academic and private research centers; forging partnerships with healthcare professionals to increase the participation of African Americans and Latinos; and breaking down barriers to faster, more efficient clinical trials.”

Read the full statement here.


Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Launches Citizen Scientist Awards®, A National Initiative Celebrating Clinical Trial Participants
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 25, 2018) – More than 5.7 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and researchers rely upon clinical trial volunteers to be the first step towards a cure. The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) has launched the Citizen Scientist Awards®, the first national awards program recognizing and celebrating Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial participants. The awards are designed to broaden awareness of the benefits of clinical research for current and future generations and increase involvement of under-represented groups in research.

Read the full release here.


Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation Launches Partnership with Lyft to Transport Clinical Trial Participants to and from Clinical Research Facilities Across North America
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Mar. 20, 2018) – The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation has launched a partnership with Lyft to provide transportation for Alzheimer’s clinical trial participants to and from research sites. The partnership began on Feb. 20 with a pilot in California. Transportation will be available for participants and care partners who are part of Eli Lilly and Company’s (Lilly) study TRAILBLAZER-ALZ, an Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial testing a combination therapy designed to attack amyloid plaque, one of the key hallmarks of Alzheimer’s, in the brain.

Read the full release here.


Statement from Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation in Response to Bill Gates’ Investment in Alzheimer’s Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 13, 2017) – “The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) enthusiastically welcomes Bill Gates and his team to the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This epidemic, which affects millions of people worldwide, is growing exponentially and requires new thinking and investment to begin to stem that tide. We at Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation are focused on disrupting the Alzheimer’s clinical trial system by collaborating with our 59 (and growing) GAP-Net research sites to reduce time-to-trial by over 50 percent. Faster trials mean that therapies can get to market more quickly and to those who desperately need them. We thank Mr. Gates’ for his commitment to finding treatments for the 44 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s and related dementia – and the millions more who will be diagnosed in the years ahead. The Alzheimer’s research community welcomes Mr. Gates’ involvement, and we’re proud to have been a part of his research into the disease. The future for Alzheimer’s research is brighter today and we continue to work tirelessly on behalf of all affected.”

Read the full release here.


Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation Unites 58 of the World’s Leading Research Sites With Goal of Doubling Clinical Trial Participation in USA
More than Half of All National Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Take Place at GAP Networked Sites
Kansas City Pilot Program Increased Volunteer Trial Participation by 292%

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 1, 2017) – Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 5.4 million Americans and costs taxpayers at least $153 billion dollars per year in Medicare and Medicaid expenses alone.  It is projected that 14 million people in the U.S. will be afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease by 2050. The Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation is implementing a new model designed to accelerate clinical trials and increase participation in research.  Results of GAP’s Kansas City initiative, the Memory Strings Kansas City Alliance, demonstrated a 292% growth in people contacting their local Alzheimer’s disease research center.  The Kansas City Alliance initiative also cut trial enrollment time in half. GAP’s initiatives are targeted to reduce the clinical trial cycle times by up to two years, with the goal of speeding the delivery of lifesaving therapies to patients.

Read the full release here.


Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Supports $400 Million Congressional Increase for Alzheimer’s Research Funding
Increase is Part of National Institutes of Health (NIH) $2 Billion Funding Boost

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 4, 2017) – The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expediting Alzheimer’s clinical trials, applauds today’s $400 million Congressional increase in Alzheimer’s research funding. Under the bipartisan vote, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will receive a $2 billion boost in fiscal year 2017, as it did the previous year. The NIH budget continues to support key areas of research, including Alzheimer’s disease. The new budget sets aside an additional $400 million for Alzheimer’s research for a total of nearly $1.4 billion, a 40 percent increase.

Read the full release here.


Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Appoints Pascale Witz to Board of Directors
Pascale Witz brings two decades of healthcare leadership experience to GAP Board

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sep. 15, 2016) – Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, Inc. (GAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the duration, cost and risk of Alzheimer’s clinical trials, today announced the appointment of Pascale Witz to its Board of Directors. In this role, Pascale will provide counsel based on her vast experience working as a healthcare executive with leading healthcare companies. The three-year term commenced on Sep. 1, 2016.

Read the full release here.


Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Announces GAP-Net
First-of-its-Kind Network of Clinical Trial Sites Quickens Timeline and Quality of Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 28, 2016) – The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) announced the launch of GAP-Net, a first-of-its-kind network of clinical trial sites collaboratively working to streamline clinical research and drug development for Alzheimer’s disease. GAP-Net currently has 11 leading academic and private commercial research site partners. The network looks to add a minimum of 20 more sites by year-end and grow to 60 sites nationally by the end of 2017.

Read the full release here.


Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Appoints Dr. Kate Zhong as Chief Strategy Officer
Dr. Zhong Brings More Than 20 Years of Experience to Organization’s New Role

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 27, 2016) – Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the time, cost and risk of Alzheimer’s clinical trials, today announced the appointment of Dr. Kate Zhong to the new position of Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). In this role, Dr. Zhong will lead strategic development advancing GAP’s efforts to disrupt the inefficient clinical trial system with a more patient-centric approach.

Read the full release here.


Majority Of Americans Would Consider Participating In An Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial. So, Why Are Enrollment Numbers So Low?
Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation is promoting innovative and easier-to-use clinical trial participation tools, including the Brain Health Registry

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 18, 2016) – In a first-ever poll conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation, nearly 60% of Americans report they are definitely willing or would consider participating in Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials, but participation rates show that less than 10% are actually doing so (source). The failure to provide willing Americans more information and easier-to-use tools for participation could be seen as weakening the attack on America’s most feared disease (source).

Read the full release here.

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