About
The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network is an international research effort focused on dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease.
Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s disease (DIAD) is a rare form of Alzheimer’s that causes memory loss and dementia in individuals — typically while they are in their 30s to 50s. The disease affects less than 1% of the total population of people with Alzheimer’s. The aim of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) is to find solutions to treat or prevent this disease and, potentially, all forms of Alzheimer’s.
DIAN’s efforts, led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, consist of a long-term observational study as well as basic science studies and clinical trials. The work is conducted in multiple countries around the world and involves researchers, clinicians, genetic counselors, individuals and families, all of whom can connect with each other via the DIAN Expanded Registry and/or through participating research sites for clinical trials or an observational study. Opportunities to participate in international family conferences and webinars also are available.
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Who we are
The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN)
DIAN is an international research partnership involving institutions in the United States, Australia, Europe, Asia and South America.
Established: 2008
Director: Randall Bateman, MD, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Activities: Operates the DIAN Observational Study, a long-term effort to observe changes that occur in individuals with DIAD
Funded by: Grant U19 AG032438 to Washington University (Bateman, PI 2015-present; Morris, PI 2008-2015) from the National Institute on Aging. Grants from an anonymous foundation and from the philanthropy of F. Simmons and O. Mohan. The DIAN sites in Germany are generously supported by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). Our international sites are generously supported by: German sites–German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE); Argentinian site–Government Agency for Scientific Research from Argentina (Agencia- Mincyt- CONICET); Japanese Sites–Japan’s Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant (Research and Development Project on Dementia); Korean sites–National Grants from Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea.
The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU)
The DIAN-TU, the clinical research arm of DIAN, is an international partnership dedicated to designing and managing interventional therapeutic trials for individuals with and at risk of DIAD.
The DIAN-TU’s primary goal is to implement effective, safe and efficient clinical trials that have the highest likelihood of success in advancing overall treatments as well as scientific understanding of inherited Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, research within the DIAN-TU is likely to advance broader understanding of all types Alzheimer’s disease with regards to causes, early detection/diagnosis, the effects of multiple classes of drugs and the impact of treating Alzheimer’s disease early.
Established: 2010
Director: Randall Bateman, MD, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Activities:
- Clinical Trial aimed at testing potential new therapies
- The DIAN Expanded Registry, whose purpose is to connect individuals and families affected with DIAD and researchers who study the disease
Funded by: Industry, private and federal support