Awards & Honors

Jacob Labonte, BS, and
Michael Alosco, PhD, Honored by the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease

Jacob Labonte, BS, and Michael L. Alosco, PhD, have received the 2026 Alzheimer Award from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease for their article, “Sex differences on tau, astrocytic, and neurodegenerative plasma biomarkers”. They were selected by the journal’s editorial board from 800 papers submitted in 2025. Sponsored by SAGE publishing, the award includes the Alzheimer Medal, a 3-inch bronze medal with the likeness of Alois Alzheimer, along with a cash prize.

Labonte, received his Bachelor of Science in biology from Worcester State University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He serves as research program manager in the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center. His research interests focus on investigating health disparities and social determinants of health related to sex, gender, race and sexuality. This was his first publication as first author. He plans to pursue graduate school to develop his training and knowledge further and continue contributing to research and clinical care in Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegenerative diseases. Labonte’s pursuit of AD research is in honor of his grandfather, Michael Cellere, who passed away in 2025 with early-onset AD.

A professor of neurology, Alosco is a clinical neuropsychologist who serves as leader of the clinical core at the BU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and co-director of clinical research at the BU CTE Center. In addition he directs neuropsychology for Boston Medical Center’s Memory & Aging Clinic.

Jacob Labonte and coworkers address one of the longest-standing questions in Alzheimer’s disease—why women face greater Alzheimer’s disease risk.

George Perry, PhD

“Jacob Labonte and coworkers address one of the longest-standing questions in Alzheimer’s disease—why women face greater Alzheimer’s disease risk. With exceptional biomarker data they inform and advance the biology of this issue by demonstrating sex-specific patterns in GFAP and NfL. We are very excited to present this award for this important study,”  said George Perry, PhD, JAD editor-in-chief.