Dean LaFerla gives a presentation on MODEL-AD
The Alzheimer’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease (ADPD) 2025 International Conference, held this year in Vienna, Austria, is an annual gathering for scientific experts and industry leaders in neurodegenerative diseases. This conference serves as a platform for sharing the latest scientific breakthroughs, clinical trial results, and innovative treatment strategies. With attendees from over 70 countries giving more than 1,200 poster presentations and 700 oral presentations, ADPD uniquely combines discussions on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related disorders, fostering a deeper understanding of their respective mechanisms and potential therapies. The conference also highlights the importance of global collaboration, bringing together academic researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals from many countries to accelerate the development of effective solutions for these devastating diseases. Key presentations are selected to feature the latest insights from research on potential new treatment strategies, disease models, and clinical trials, such as those related to new therapeutic and diagnostic advancements in AD.
Dr. Head moderates a session called Pathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
This year, several researchers from UCI MIND were selected from over 7,000 attendees to present key advancements from their respective labs investigating AD and other related disorders. Dr. Frank LaFerla, Dean of the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, and co-director of the UCI Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), shared new insights and advances from the Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (MODEL-AD) Consortium. Dr. Elizabeth Head, Vice Chair for Research and co-director of the Experimental Pathology graduate Program, co-director of the Center for Aging Research in Down Syndrome, and the core leader of the Research Education Component of the ADRC, moderated the session on Pathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases and presented updates from the Alzheimer Biomarker Consortium on AD in people with Down syndrome.
Dr. Chadarevian presents on microglia replacement
Dr. Mathew Blurton-Jones, core leader of the UCI ADRC induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Core and Stem Cell Research Center CRISPR Core, moderated the session on cell replacement therapy & diagnostics, where he presented key findings highlighting the differences between CNS-wide engrafted human monocytes and iPSC-microglia. Dr. Vivek Swarup, Associate Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and UCI MIND faculty, moderated a session on white matter alterations, where he presented oligodendrocyte-specific transcriptomic alterations and cell-cell communication across AD progression. Also in attendance, Dr. Jean Paul Chadarevian, postdoctoral researcher in the Blurton-Jones lab, was selected to present his results harnessing human microglia for CNS-wide delivery of therapeutic peptides.
The Blurton-Jones Lab at ADPD including Drs. Hayk Davtyan (left), Jean Paul Chadarevian (middle), and Mathew Blurton-Jones (right).
These presentations serve as a powerful testament to the exceptional quality and expertise of each UCI MIND investigator, driving innovation and making substantial research advances. Altogether, the conference served as the latest reminder of the progress in furthering our understanding of neurodegenerative disease to translate pivotal findings for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Congratulations to the participants of ADPD 2025!
