Mohamed Salama, professor at AUC's Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, alongside Vaibhav Narayan, the Executive Vice President at Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative, and Mie Rizig, a Clinical Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Neuromuscular Diseases at University College London, delve into the partnership between AUC and Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative, aiming to undertake initiatives focused on Alzheimer's disease.
In an unprecedented international response to Alzheimer’s disease, AUC, the The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) and University College London (UCL) have partnered to leverage AUC’s expertise in neuroscience research alongside UCL’s cutting-edge methods of addressing neurological disorders to combat the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on aging populations, both in Egypt and beyond.
Advancing detection, monitoring, prevention, and treatment methods while located in Egypt, this project is uniquely positioned to have a broad impact.
"With a population of over 110 million, Egypt has served as a distinctive meeting point between Africa and the Middle East, boasting a wealth of genetic and cultural heritage. This project not only promises to bring benefits to the people of Egypt, but also aims to advance the understanding of dementia in both the region and the world,” says Mohamed Salama, author of the Longitudinal Study of Egypt Healthy Aging, North African Dementia Registry lead and professor at the Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology (I-GHHE) at AUC.
I-GHHE Founding Director Hassan El-Fawal described the partnership as “a fulfillment of the Institute’s vision to leverage regional expertise towards global impact.” Data from their research will be made available publicly through the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative platform, supporting global research initiatives and interventions by providing the broader research community access.
“This collaboration will bolster our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease in an important region with a genetically diverse population and varied ancestries,” says Vaibhav Narayan, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative executive vice president. The joint efforts will also support students and engage clinicians across Egypt, addressing the underrepresentation of the MENA region and Africa in the field. “Over the longer term, this program will bring regionally relevant prevention and intervention efforts to individuals typically neglected in these efforts,” he continues.
