Stimulating Research

Strategic Research Analysis: 1998 – 2008

AFTD partnered with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery foundation (ADDF) to fund a comprehensive survey of all research funded over the past decade that relates to FTD.  The analysis surveyed a wide range of international research and publication databases and funding agencies to gather as comprehensive a picture as possible.  Key findings from the Analysis include:

•  FTD overall received little funding over the past decade compared to Alzheimer’s disease (10% of AD)

•  The majority (83%) of all FTD funding originated at the NIH. However, contribution from the NIH has steadily decreased over time (5-fold 1999 – 2007)

•  A near absence of FTD-specific patient, palliative, end of life care management or best care practice research was observed

This Analysis provides the first comprehensive view of all work being conducted in FTD research internationally, and we anticipate that this report will guide our research investments and advocacy efforts to garner more funding for FTD research over the next few years. Follow this link to download a copy of this Strategic Analysis.

Miami Meeting: January 2007

Early in 2007 AFTD partnered with two NIH Institutes (the National Institute of Neurologic Diseases and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging) to host a meeting of leaders in the field of FTD. Thirty-three leaders from 17 institutions in five countries met to assess the current state of FTD research and treatment.   The purpose of the workshop was three-fold: to review the current state of knowledge about FTD; to create a prioritized list of recommendations to move the field forward; and to emerge with an overall blueprint to speed translation of FTD research into the clinic and into development of potential new therapeutics.

Meeting participants and past recipients of the Potamkin Prize

The outcome of the conference was a report that summarized the status of FTD research and treatment at the time and presented a prioritized list of recommendations and specific steps to implement those recommendations. This document is still in use as a “road map” for FTD research, and specific results have included a pathology workshop hosted by NINDS in February 2008 and the Drug Discovery partnership between AFTD and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.