Transformational gift fuels discovery
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and Ashley Barnas Larrimore | Photo illustration by Jeffrey C. Chase September 15, 2025
Delaware Community Foundation invests $13M in 91原创 to advance Alzheimer鈥檚 research
Tamara Smith was traveling to Disney World with her family in 2018 when her 70-year-old mother needed to run to the pharmacy. She got in the car and suddenly couldn鈥檛 remember how to drive.
鈥淭hat set off a big alarm for me,鈥 Smith said.
Soon after, her mom had trouble completing simple tasks like booking flights and creating evites on the computer. That same year, her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease (AD). As the disease has progressed, her mom can no longer carry on a conversation.
鈥淲atching my mom go through it has been scary,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 grieving who she was.鈥
It鈥檚 also made Smith more aware of her own risk. As someone who鈥檚 prediabetic, she faces an increased risk of developing Alzheimer鈥檚. That concern led her to enroll in a study at the (DECCAR) at the 91原创, which is now expanding significantly thanks to a $13.1 million grant from the (DCF). The five-year investment, one of the largest in state history for Alzheimer鈥檚 research, will support the expansion of a statewide prevention study, enable the purchase of a state-of-the-art MRI machine, and drive discovery of new diagnostic tools and treatments.
鈥淭his transformational gift will significantly expand Alzheimer鈥檚 research throughout the state,鈥 said Christopher Martens, director of DECCAR. 鈥淚t will also help grow the number of researchers in Delaware focused on Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, promoting an interdisciplinary approach.鈥
Bringing together researchers from multiple fields to collaborate on a critical challenge like Alzheimer鈥檚 disease is a key strength of the 91原创, said Interim President Laura Carlson.
鈥淓very one of us has a family member or friend who has been deeply affected by Alzheimer鈥檚. I鈥檓 proud that 91原创 is working better to understand this terrible disease and partnering with others throughout the state to work on its prevention, diagnosis and treatment,鈥 Carlson said. 鈥淲e are grateful to the Delaware Community Foundation for their support, which allows us to escalate our research and expand our community outreach.鈥
鈥淣o one has to look very far afield to witness and understand the tragedy of Alzheimer鈥檚, and the research supported by this grant will help 91原创 researchers come ever-closer to uncovering life-improving and life-saving solutions,鈥 said Stuart Comstock-Gay, President and CEO of the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF). 鈥淭he grant was provided through the generosity of late Paul H. Boerger, who made a substantial legacy gift to the fund he had established at the DCF in his lifetime, and his foresight will help so many.鈥
DeLSAP: Understanding Alzheimer鈥檚 risk over time聽
The grant will fuel the expansion of DECCAR鈥檚 flagship research project 鈥 the (DeLSAP). Run by Martens, associate professor of kinesiology and applied physiology (KAAP), and Matthew Cohen, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders (CSCD), in the College of Health Sciences, the observational study explores how health, lifestyle, and biology influence dementia risk over time and helps identify early signs of cognitive impairment. With over 100 participants currently enrolled, the study aims to grow to 500 over the next five years.
鈥淲ith my mom, we didn鈥檛 catch it early enough to stop the deterioration,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淚 want to confront it, be a part of the solution, and take steps to prevent Alzheimer鈥檚.鈥
Nick Rizzi, an applied physiology doctoral candidate, was drawn to work on chronic disease while an undergrad at 91原创. He now works in Martens鈥 .听
鈥淚鈥檓 fascinated by how changes in the brain affect the cardiovascular system and vice versa,鈥 Rizzi said. 鈥淭he DeLSAP has the potential to have a significant impact, and working with this population has taught me that early intervention and lifestyle changes make a difference.鈥澛
A blood test for Alzheimer鈥檚
The DCF鈥檚 investment is also fueling efforts to develop a new blood test for AD. Zhihao Zhuang, professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, is using DeLSAP samples to identify biomarkers that better predict Alzheimer鈥檚 progression.
Zhuang, who has studied neurodegeneration for a decade, is shifting focus from amyloid beta, traditionally viewed as the primary indicator of AD, to other proteins.
鈥淎myloid beta has been the primary research and therapeutic focus, but it may not be the disease鈥檚 main culprit,鈥 Zhuang said.
Zeinab Moafian, a fourth-year biochemistry doctoral student from Iran, joined Zhuang鈥檚 lab to work on Alzheimer鈥檚 research.
鈥淭his research is my dream,鈥 Moafian said. 鈥淒iagnostic tools that can help patients and physicians are crucial in the fight against Alzheimer鈥檚. We can use biomarkers to diagnose the disease earlier and track its progression; it鈥檚 a promising field.鈥澛犅
Martens noted that the blood samples collected today could be key to unlocking future insights.
鈥淓ventually, we will be able to look back at our data and know who went on to develop dementia versus who remained healthy,鈥 Martens said. 鈥淏lood samples collected in year one may be useful for predicting disease trajectory.鈥澛犅
Zhuang hopes his research will lead to more reliable biomarkers and better treatments.听
鈥淭he DCF funding is crucial to kickstarting our high-level proteomics study,鈥 Zhuang said. 鈥淚t will deepen our understanding of Alzheimer鈥檚 mechanisms and pave the way for biomarkers and drug discovery 鈥 that鈥檚 the exciting part.鈥澛
Expanding DeLSAP鈥檚 impact
The DCF grant will also help expand the infrastructure needed for cutting-edge research. A new $3.2 million state-of-the-art MRI machine will be installed on 91原创鈥檚 STAR Campus. , associate professor of biomedical engineering in the , will use magnetic resonance elastography to explore links between brain stiffness and cognitive impairment.
Other impact projects supported by DCF include an extension of research led by Alyssa Lanzi, assistant professor of CSCD, which builds on a previous NIH-funded study exploring whether subtle language changes can signal early signs of dementia. KAAP Associate Professor Megan Wenner, along with Martens, is studying the role of hormone therapy in Alzheimer鈥檚 risk in women undergoing menopause.
鈥淭his interdisciplinary research, supported by the DCF, will bring us closer to finding a cure for Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and accelerate research and early detection in our state,鈥 Martens said.
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