Overview

The Center for Neurodegeneration and Translational Neuroscience (CNTN) is a translational research enterprise. Translational research — often encapsulated as movement of information and knowledge from “bench to bedside” — is vitally concerned with translating advances in basic biology into improved public health. There is increasing concern that the marked progress in understanding the basic biology of disease processes is not being effectively and speedily translated into better disease treatments.

CNTN addresses this translational gap.

A biomarker (biological marker) is defined as a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. Biomarkers are a major tool of translational neuroscience. The repertoire of biomarkers to be used in the CNTN include structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), amyloid (florbetapir) positron emission tomography (PET), microglial PET, and genetics.