This year, the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund Research Consortium had its annual meeting in San Diego to discuss and debate the latest research progress. About 15 scientists attended, along with the entire CAF board and key staff members. “The group’s discussion was wide ranging and spirited,” said Meg Smith, CAF’s senior advisor for strategy and special projects. Consortium members asked each other tough questions, talked through future implications, and shared prepublication data, which rarely happens in the world of science. “A wide variety of investigative areas were discussed, but there was particular energy around inflammation, how beneficial microglial activity can become toxic, and the intermediating activities of CD33 and TREM2,” Smith said.

Cure Alzheimer’s Fund was founded to empower leading researchers to pursue novel and groundbreaking ideas. The free flow of conversation among our researchers helps hone and advance these ideas faster than would otherwise be possible. This year at the meeting, researchers from different institutions worked together to hatch new projects that, upon appropriate review, will be fostered by Cure Alzheimer’s Fund in the year ahead. “Research Consortium members told us how valuable they found the opportunity to collaborate at our meeting, and we’re proud and grateful that such progress could take place in only a couple of days,” added Smith.