In fiscal year 2008, we continued to play a leading role in the quest to understand and develop better treatments for Alzheimer’s by funding research that will advance knowledge in a diverse spectrum of Alzheimer science and piloting an awareness program in five cities to encourage clinical studies participation.

We helped advance Alzheimer research by funding more than $26 million in research initiatives, including $25.4 million in grants to 131 investigators. This represents the largest-ever commitment by our annual research grant program, which supports a wide range of research, from basic science studies to studies addressing social and behavioral issues in Alzheimer’s. The Association is the largest private supporter of Alzheimer research worldwide and has committed more than $250 million in research grants since 1982.

As many in-development drugs moved from the laboratory into clinical trials and the need for Alzheimer study participants soared, we launched the first phase of a multiyear clinical studies initiative in five areas across the country. As part of the initiative, we piloted strategies in five markets: Providence, R.I., Atlanta, Indianapolis, Tulsa,Okla., and San Francisco, for raising public and physician awareness about the importance of participating in clinical studies, including grassroots outreach to minority and underserved populations.

We created the Tomorrow’s Leader Award in collaboration with the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund and Lou Ruvo Brain Institute to honor and encourage new Alzheimer investigatorswho have made pivotal contributions to early detection, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s. In fiscal year 2008, three $100,000 awards were made. The annual award program honors the legacies of two pioneering Alzheimer researchers, George G. Glenner, M.D., and Leon J. Thal, M.D.

(from left) Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association president and CEO, and Timothy Armour, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund president and CEO, congratulate Tomorrow’s Leader Award recipient James Lah. Not pictured are award recipients Sterling Johnson and Dora Kovacs.

Zenith Society members increased their support for leading Alzheimer’s researchers by awarding five investigators grants of $450,000 over three years for a$2.2 million investment in research in 2008. The Zenith Society grants support top scientists who are advancing promising investigations about disease mechanisms, diagnosis, novel treatments and quality care. The Alzheimer’s Association Zenith Society represents our highest and most involved level of philanthropy, with more than 45 million in support of the Association’s work in research, care, support and advocacy.

The Association launched its first professional membership society, the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer Research and Treatment (ISTAART), to bring together researchers and clinicians from a broad range of fields to accelerate progress in Alzheimer and dementia research.

Just three years after its launch, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, was accepted into MEDLINE, the bibliographic database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The acceptance marks recognition of the journal’s scientific merit and contribution to the field of Alzheimer science.

At the Association's request, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer's to participate in the FDA's Patient Consultant and Patient Representative Programs. There, they had the opportunity to offer their perspectives on topics such as clinical trial design and guidelines for clinical research.

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