{"id":6515,"date":"2011-02-18T14:58:03","date_gmt":"2011-02-18T19:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/busm-news\/?p=1177"},"modified":"2011-02-18T14:58:03","modified_gmt":"2011-02-18T19:58:03","slug":"abraham-and-mellott-receive-grant-funding-from-the-alzheimers-association","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/2011\/02\/18\/abraham-and-mellott-receive-grant-funding-from-the-alzheimers-association\/","title":{"rendered":"Abraham and Mellott Receive Grant Funding from the Alzheimer\u2019s Association"},"content":{"rendered":"

BUSM researchers Carmela R. Abraham, PhD and Tiffany Mellott, PhD have been awarded grants from the Alzheimer\u2019s Association. Dr. Abraham received $200,000 to support her current research on drug therapy for Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Dr. Mellott, was granted $80,000 to support her current research on a naturally-occurring brain chemical which may have Alzheimer-preventing properties. The study, called \u201cThe effects of perinatal choline supplementation on AD models,\u201d explores the uses of the chemical choline on the brain.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. Carmela Abraham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. Tiffany Mellott<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Drs. Abraham and Mellott were presented with their grant awards at a recent ceremony attended by representatives from the Alzheimer\u2019s Association as well as BUSM, where both have research labs.\u00a0 Watch excerpts<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Abraham\u2019s study, \u201cModulators of APP Dimerization as Novel Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease,\u201d looks into the potential effects of drugs that would inhibit key cell degeneration in the brain resulting from the toxicity exerted by the amyloid beta protein and how checking this process could be used to slow the progression or even stop the onset of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

The Abeta protein is derived from the Amyloid Precursor Protein, or APP. APP dimerization, or the coming together of two APP molecules, was shown to affect the production of the toxic Abeta protein. Abeta aggregation and the plaques it creates lead to the destruction of brain cells and the progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease. By stopping dimerization, it is hoped that the plaques won\u2019t be formed and nerve cell degeneration can be avoided.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. Carmela Abraham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Abraham, a professor of Biochemistry at the Boston University School of Medicine, received her PhD in neuroscience from Harvard University after completing undergraduate studies at Israel\u2019s Tel Aviv University. Her work has been featured in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Elsevier\u2019s Encyclopedia of Neuroscience<\/em> and the American Journal of Pathology<\/em>, among others.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. Tiffany Mellott<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Mellott, a research assistant professor at Boston University\u2019s Pathology and Laboratory Medicine department, received her degree Boston University School of Medicine for pathology and neuroscience. She has published many studies regarding the use of choline to combat Alzheimer\u2019s and Alzheimer-related diseases.<\/p>\n

Choline, a brain chemical linked to spatial learning and memory, is supplied to the developing baby by the mother while in the womb. Choline supplementation can increase the level of factors that support the survival and regeneration of synapses in the brain, according to Mellott’s work. Synapses, being the sites of transmission of the brain\u2019s chemical messengers, are unable to be repaired naturally by the body once they are lost, which could be a partial cause of Alzheimer\u2019s disease dementia manifestations.<\/p>\n

The Alzheimer\u2019s Association research grants program, which has awarded over $279 million since 1982, funds investigations that advance understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, and furthers knowledge of brain health and disease prevention.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is only through adept research and tireless dedication by those such as Dr. Abraham and Dr. Mellott that huge strides have been made in our understanding of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and it is by these efforts that a cure will be discovered\u201d said James Wessler, President & CEO of the Alzheimer\u2019s Association, Massachusetts\/New Hampshire Chapter. \u201cThe Alzheimer\u2019s Association is proud to support those aligned with the cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Alzheimer\u2019s Association is a nationwide group dedicated to providing programs and services to those affected by Alzheimer\u2019s disease and their families.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BUSM researchers Carmela R. Abraham, PhD and Tiffany Mellott, PhD have been awarded grants from the Alzheimer\u2019s Association. Dr. Abraham received $200,000 to support her current research on drug therapy for Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Dr. Mellott, was granted $80,000 to support her current research on a naturally-occurring brain chemical which may have Alzheimer-preventing properties. The study, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":903,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6515"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/903"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6515\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}