In a recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, researchers described the experience of the first two years of The Institute on Methods and Protocols for Advancement of Clinical Trials in ADRD (IMPACT-AD), including the rates of applications to the course, summaries of accepted trainees, and measures of participant satisfaction and learning.
IMPACT-AD is an educational program that was created to help address the lack of qualified investigators with sufficient training and expertise to conduct Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-related Dementias (ADRD) clinical trials. The program's goal is to educate and diversify the next generation of ADRD trialists by offering training and resources to promising researchers from diverse backgrounds. This innovative program is a collaboration between USC ATRI along with the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC), and UCI Mind.
Over the first two years of the course, IMPACT-AD received 195 eligible applications from researchers interested in participating in the program. Of these applicants, the majority (62%) were female, and nearly half self-reported as being African American/Black, Asian, or Pacific Islander race and/or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity.
Of the 69 total trainees that were accepted into the program, a majority (64%) were female. Additionally, 41% of trainees self-reported as being African American/Black, Asian, or Pacific Islander, and 16% were of Hispanic ethnicity. 20% of trainees identified as being the first person in their family to attend college. Among trainees, 35% were MDs, 43% were PhDs, and 13% held master’s degrees.
IMPACT-AD offered a series of lectures on topics related to AD and ADRD clinical trials, which were rated as "essential" or "valuable" by 98% of trainees. On average, 48% of trainees rated their prior knowledge of the topics as "very strong" or "strong," while 11% of trainees rated their prior knowledge as "weak." After completing the course, 52% of trainees evaluated their change in knowledge based on the lectures as "very much increased," while 46% evaluated their knowledge as "somewhat" or "slightly" increased. Only 2% of trainees felt that there was no change in their knowledge.
Based on pre- and post-course assessments, trainees improved their knowledge of covered content, increasing their correct responses on knowledge assessments from 62% to 79%.
Overall, the study found that the IMPACT-AD course is effectively fulfilling its mission of educating and diversifying the next generation of ADRD trialists. This program is a significant step towards providing adequate training and expertise of study designs to conduct clinical trials and improve outcomes for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.
The success of the program is thanks to the leadership and scientific guidance of Dr. Laurie Ryan and Dr. Kristina McLinden from the National Institute on Aging, who played essential roles in the creation and execution of IMPACT-AD. Special thanks to USC ATRI Faculty members Dr. Paul Aisen, Dr. Michael Donohue, Gustavo Jimenez-Maggiora, Dr. Michael Rafii, Dr. Rema Raman, and Dr. Robert Rissman, in addition to the many other USC ATRI administration and committee members for being part of this important initiative.
By educating and ensuring diversity in the next generation of researchers, IMPACT-AD has the potential to significantly improve our understanding and treatment of AD and ADRD.
Data in this article is accurate as of the initial publication date.