The Alzheimer’s Association Innovation Roundtable (AAIR) brings together innovators, champions, experts and thought leaders across the health care sector. Together, the AAIR will look for ways to reduce risk, improve early detection and increase access to evidence-based, person-centered care for those facing Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
AAIR objectives
- Advise: Assess the state of health care in relation to dementia and identify areas of strategic need.
- Innovate: Generate recommendations, challenge assumptions and collaborate to bring novel products and solutions to market.
- Influence: Inspire buy-in and impact adoption of best practices in evidence-based, person-centered care across the health system spectrum.
Innovation and connection
The AAIR will reimagine the dementia care experience by taking a dual transformation view—strengthening today’s approaches while simultaneously creating tomorrow’s opportunities. Ways the AAIR will leverage collective strengths and entrepreneurial energy include:
- Impact-focused meetings: Facilitated innovation sessions, networking opportunities and collaboration with those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
- Webinars: Member-exclusive and public webinars to share business intelligence and showcase thought leadership.
- Alzheimer’s Association Pitch Competition: Annual global innovation competition for startups to pitch technologies, products and solutions for innovations that increase cognitive assessment and early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other dementia within primary care settings.
Alzheimer’s Association Pitch Competition

The Alzheimer’s Association and MATTER have launched the second annual Alzheimer’s Association Pitch Competition, a global call for innovations that increase access to quality, person-centered care for underserved communities affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Up to five startups will be selected to advance their solutions with key industry stakeholders and pitch their solutions for the chance to win $15,000.
Learn more about the competition and register, including benefits of participation and selection criteria.
AAIR participants
Co-Chairs:
Ashley Alexander
President and CEO, Kelsey Research Foundation, the non-research affiliate of
Kelsey Seybold Clinic

Nicole Purcell, D.O., M.S.
Neurologist, Lehigh Valley, Fleming Neuroscience Institute
Roundtable Specialty Advisory Group:
Teresa Leon Colombo, M.D., Ph.D.
Scientific Vice President, Novo Nordisk

Traci Schilling, M.D.
Associate Vice President, U.S. Medical Affairs, Neuroscience, Lilly

Chuck Sabino
Vice President, U.S. Alzheimer’s Disease Commercial, Eisai

Diana Slowiejko, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Principle Med Science Director, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Genentech

Marwan Sabbagh, M.D., FAAN
Vice Chairman for Research and Professor, Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, CommonSpirit

Gary Romano, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Alector
Government Agency Partners:
Kelly Fegan-Bohm, MD, MPH, M.A.
Medical Director, Community Health Improvement Division, Texas Department of State Health Services
Desiree Partain, MHA
Transformation Manager,
MedStar Mobile Healthcare
For more information
For more information about the AAIR or how to join, please email
aair@alz.org.