Workshops and Preconferences

Unlocking the Secrets of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Mastering Fluid Biomarkers

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Harbour B

This workshop will highlight Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research 2.0 – Advancing Dementia Care Network (GEAR 2.0) consensus conference-identified research priorities in the emergency care for The fluid biomarkers field for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias is rapidly expanding. This workshop aims to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles, inherent limitations, and clinical and research applications of the most common AD biomarkers present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. This workshop will include fundamental laboratory-focused sessions that capture the basics of neurochemistry, sample pre-analytics, assay methods and development, quality control, and regulatory considerations. It will also incorporate clinical practice-focused sessions that cover considerations for AD fluid biomarker implementation, the context of use, disclosure, and the gaps and opportunities in this field.

This workshop is organized by the Biofluid Based Biomarkers Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Measuring What Matters: Evaluating, Selecting and Developing Cognitive Outcome Measures Using Advanced Psychometrics and Clinimetrics

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 9

This workshop aims to enhance the quality of cognitive outcome measures and to further the design and evaluation of clinimetric and psychometric studies related to measurement instruments. We will discuss the development of methods for assessing the properties of health measurement instruments used in dementia research and how to apply these methods to create new health measurement instruments or evaluate existing ones. The overall objective is to advance the quality of measurements and improve the utilization of data derived from those measures in analyses.

This workshop is organized by the Cognition Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

101 Health Disparities Research Using Real World Data

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 3

This workshop is designed for researchers across disciplines and career stages interested in leveraging real-world data (RWD) for equity-focused Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) research. Led by experts in health services research, computer science and translational science, this interactive workshop will cover the fundamentals of RWD, key methodological considerations and analytical tools to identify and address health disparities in dementia. Hands-on exercises and discussions will provide practical insights into integrating RWD into disparities research to drive actionable findings.

Advancing Emergency Care of Persons Living with Dementia: A GEAR Network Immersive Workshop

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Frontemac Ballroom

This workshop will highlight Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research 2.0 – Advancing Dementia Care Network (GEAR 2.0) consensus conference-identified research priorities in the emergency care for persons living with dementia (PLWD) and learn about the pilot studies funded by the GEAR Network. Furthermore, the workshop will promote networking and collaboration with experts and other networks advancing the care of PLWD and support development of research grants.

Applied Regression Analysis in R

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 7 and 8

This workshop will provide attendees with an applied, hands-on data analysis experience where they will run different types of regression analyses in the R statistical package. The workshop will begin with a brief introduction to the syntax used in R programming and attendees will be provided with examples of R code that they can run independently with datasets that will be provided. The workshop will begin with an overview of linear regression and will then transition to other types of regression analysis that can be used when data are not normally distributed.

This workshop is organized by the Design and Data Analytics Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Connect and Communicate with Older Adults Living With or Without Neurocognitive Decline

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Harbour C

This workshop will provide a highly interactive experience, introducing participants to the Validation method, an evidence-based way of connecting and communicating with older adults living with neurocognitive disorders (NCD). Developed by Naomi Feil in the 1970s, the Validation method has been the gold standard for training for decades. Participants will learn the three essential elements that constitute the Validation method: the Validation Principles, which are based on scientific theory and guide our actions; the basic, empathetic approach or validating attitude, which aligns with person-centered care; and various verbal and non-verbal techniques. Together, these elements facilitate meaningful connections with individuals diagnosed with dementia, allowing for effective one-to-one interactions, whether they communicate verbally or non-verbally.

This workshop is organized by the Nonpharmacological Interventions Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Basics of Genetic Analysis

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 2

The workshop will provide an immersive introduction to the fundamentals of genetic analysis within the framework of brain imaging genetics research. Tailored for participants interested in exploring the interplay between genetic data and imaging-based studies, the sessions will integrate theoretical concepts with hands-on practice to provide a comprehensive learning experience. Participants will gain practical experience in analyzing genetic data, from single SNP analyses to genome-wide approaches and polygenic risk score (PRS) calculation, with a focus on their application to imaging genetics research.

This workshop is organized by the Neuroimaging Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Working with the Veterans Administration: Partnerships in Research for Alzheimer's Disease

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 4 and 5

The goal of this workshop is to provide information regarding how to partner with the Veterans Administration (VA) to sponsor or conduct clinical research. This workshop is open to investigators (VA and non-VA affiliated), VA non-profit corporations and potential corporate partners. Topics will include the current state of Alzheimer's research within the VA, how to get involved with research at the VA from investigator-initiated projects to sponsored clinical trials, how to establish partnerships between the VA and industry, how to work with your VA's non-profit corporation (NPC), and the administrative processes involved.

Harmonizing Amyloid and Tau PET Data Across Tracers and Centers Using the Global Alzheimer’s Association Interactive Network

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Queens Quay

In this workshop, attendees will learn how Centiloid and CenTauR values are derived from PET imaging, how to interpret the harmonized data, and how the results are applied in research and clinical settings. Advances in amyloid and tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has led to their increased use in cohort studies and diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease. Based on the need for harmonization of PET measurements across tracers, scanners and imaging centers, researchers have developed a standardized Centiloid scale for amyloid PET imaging, and a standardized CenTauR scale for tau PET imaging.

Datasets for conversion to these scales are hosted on the Global Alzheimer’s Association Interactive Network (GAAIN). GAAIN is the world’s first open access, federated Alzheimer’s disease data discovery platform and offers researchers a rich resource for exploring data collected across different countries and modalities, which also includes supported data initiatives such as the Centiloid and CenTauR projects.

ADSP Phenotype Harmonization Consortium: From Fundamentals to AI in Diffusion MRI for Alzheimer's Disease

Friday, July 25: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Harbour A

In 2022, the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project Phenotype Harmonization Consortium (ADSP-PHC) released its first data freeze.The ADSP-PHC releases annual updates that include additional cohorts and updated data from cohorts previously harmonized. This project encompasses longitudinal harmonization of neuroimaging, cognitive, biomarker, and neuropathology data across multiple cohort studies of aging included in the ADSP for the purpose of joint genomic analysis.

Advancing Alzheimer's Research Through BEST Practices in Study Design

Friday, July 25: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 4 and 5

This workshop will introduce Alzheimer’s researchers to the BEST (Biomarkers, EndpointS, and other Tools) resource, which serves as a vital framework for designing impactful studies. While the BEST resource provides foundational guidance on biomarker validation, the workshop further extends this knowledge by integrating two key frameworks: the ATNIVS (Amyloid, Tau, Neurodegeneration, Vascular, Inflammation, and Synuclein) criteria and the STRIVE guidelines, which address vascular contributions to cognitive impairment. Together, these tools offer a comprehensive approach to Alzheimer’s disease study design.

Funder in Action: A Collaborative Grants Workshop

Friday, July 25: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Harbour C

This workshop will provide you with a dynamic session with representatives from funding organizations, awardees and reviewers sharing their tips, tools and real world experiences. These funding agencies will generously share their insights, indispensable tools and real-world experiences, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the strategies that lead to successful funding acquisition. What sets this session apart is its hands-on approach, allowing you to immerse yourself in the practical aspects of the funding process. Moreover, this session offers a unique chance to directly connect with program officers and teams representing a diverse array of funding agencies, including but not limited to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Michael J. Fox Foundation, CurePSP and others. Building these connections provides a rare opportunity to gain insights into the specific priorities and expectations of different funding bodies, thus enabling you to tailor your proposals more effectively.

Cognitive Resilience in Alzheimer’s Disease: Concepts, Statistical Tools and Policy Shaping

Friday, July 25: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 2

This workshop will provide guidance on state-of-the-art approaches to investigating, quantifying, and promoting resilience against Alzheimer’s disease in older adults, with an emphasis on effectively communicating findings to policymakers. It aims to teach and facilitate discussions on current conceptualizations of resilience and the statistical methods used to quantify it, particularly addressing sex/gender and race/ethnic differences while recognizing the limitations of these approaches. Additionally, the workshop will explore personalized resilience strategies utilizing AI and population-based methods from a OneHealth perspective, as well as effective strategies for disseminating information to policymakers. Particular emphasis will be placed on hands-on learning experiences.

This workshop is organized by the Reserve, Resilience, and Protective Factors Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

AD/ADRD Multimodal Data Workshop

Friday, July 25: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Harbour A

Join this in-person and interactive workshop for a dynamic overview of the opportunities for leveraging and integrating multimodal data to address pressing challenges in AD/ADRD. Multimodal data from single individuals is rapidly growing in volume and complexity and includes EHR, clinical data, genomics and other omics data, blood-based biomarkers and imaging data. This increased richness of data creates opportunities to tackle new research questions and to overcome challenges related to navigating data repositories and combining data across disparate modalities.

Getting Started with Neuroimaging Analysis

Friday, July 25: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 7 and 8

This workshop will provide attendees with an interactive hands-on opportunity to view, process, analyse and interpret medical imaging data. These sessions use neuroimaging data both from various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities as well as positron imaging tomography (PET) from amyloid and tau tracers.

This workshop is organized by the Neuroimaging Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Consideration of Comorbidity and Multi-Morbidities in Dementia While Designing Clinical Trials

Friday, July 25: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Frontemac Ballroom

This workshop is designed to teach the participants how to design clinical trials, taking into consideration the existing underlying multimorbid conditions and what factors need to be considered from a regulatory perspective. This workshop will teach participants on how to formulate observational studies in cohorts with comorbidities and multimorbidity and analytical methods to be used to account for these.

Systematic Reviews for Dementia Researchers: Tools, Techniques and Best Practices

Friday, July 25: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Queens Quay

This workshop is specifically geared to trainees, researchers and clinicians who are not already familiar with systematic review methodology or want a refresher. High-quality and timely evidence synthesis is a critical skill for dementia clinicians and researchers, given the rapidly advancing research climate. Systematic reviews represent the highest level of scientific evidence and serve as the foundation for evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines. This hands-on workshop will cover practical and foundational basics of systematic review methodology and guide participants through the process of efficiently conducting high-quality systematic reviews, which may be used to inform new clinical practice guidelines, including initiatives recently spearheaded by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Nonlinear Change Over Time in R: Featuring New Functions of the Package nlive

Friday, July 25: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 3

In this workshop, researchers and health professionals will be introduced to advanced analytical methods to model changes in continuous outcomes, such as cognitive scores, over time, with a focus on modern techniques that account for nonlinear changes. These models include spline-based models, the onset of accelerated change through fixed and random change-point models commonly utilized to investigate terminal decline, and sigmoidal mixed effect models, exemplified by the curves postulated in Jack's model. Alongside the introduction of these concepts, participants will also receive coding guidance in R, with an introduction to the new features of the nlive R package.

This workshop is organized by the Design and Data Analytics Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Alzheimer's Imaging Consortium (AIC)

Saturday, July 26: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Metro Toronto Convention Centre

The Alzheimer’s Imaging Consortium (AIC), a preconference to AAIC, will focus on the frontiers of neuroimaging of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. The program will focus on novel imaging techniques and analysis, how neuroimaging can drive discoveries in and improve understanding of the disease, and how these innovations can have an impact on clinical applications. The program consists of invited speakers, oral and poster presentations from submitted abstracts, a mentoring lunch for early career researchers, and a panel discussion. AIC brings together neuroimaging researchers from around the world and highlights the technical progress and recent innovations in neuroimaging that will enhance clinical applications of the future. A reception will follow for registered attendees.

This preconference is organized by the Neuroimaging Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Technology and Dementia

Saturday, July 26: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Frontemac Ballroom

Technology and Dementia, a preconference to AAIC, will convene researchers and members of the industry interested in technology research and development, including mobile technology, home-based technology and social networking. Sessions explore various types of technologies as tools to support innovative study design in research and as interventions for persons living with dementia and their care partners. The program consists of invited speakers, as well as oral and poster presentations from submitted abstracts. A reception will follow for registered attendees.

This preconference is organized by the Technology and Dementia Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

ISTAART PIA Day

Saturday, July 26: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Harbor A, B, C and Pier 2, 3

ISTAART Professional Interest Area (PIA) Day is an exclusive event for current and new ISTAART members. The event features targeted sessions, interactive panels, debates and networking opportunities, running concurrently with the AAIC preconference and ISTAART Immersives workshop programs. PIA Day provides a platform for members to engage with peers and experts, fostering collaboration and engagement within the ISTAART community. Learn about ISTAART benefits and how to join.

Leadership Skill Development Workshop for Emerging Scientists in Alzheimer’s Research

Saturday, July 26: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Queens Quay

This workshop goes beyond theoretical concepts, providing tangible tools and resources to empower you as a leader in the field. Learn how to inspire and motivate your team, communicate your ideas effectively, and develop a leadership style that aligns with your values and goals. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and elevate your leadership abilities. Through interactive exercises and discussions, you will gain practical insights and strategies to navigate the challenges unique to leadership in science and beyond.

This workshop is organized by the AWARE Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Assessing and Addressing Hearing, Vision and Olfaction in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment

Saturday, July 26: 8 a.m. – noon
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 7 and 8

This hands-on workshop will cover three main topic areas including an introduction to hearing, vision, and olfaction impairment in individuals with cognitive impairment across diverse settings, as well as providing hands-on training in the assessment of these sensory impairments. Additionally, the workshop will involve hands-on assessment of cognitive function in individuals with hearing and/or vision impairment.

This workshop is organized by the Sensory Health and Cognition Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Building Capacity for Collaborations Among Researchers and People with Lived Experience of Dementia: Global Perspectives

Saturday, July 26: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 7 and 8

This workshop aims to engage people with lived experience in research — an approach that involves people living with dementia and care/study partners in multiple phases of the research process. “Patient engagement” and related concepts of “(patient and) public involvement” and “public and patient engagement” are gaining prominence internationally. For some research funding programs and organizations, patient engagement is a condition of funding. Researchers of all types are being asked to incorporate patient engagement activities into their work.

This workshop is organized by the Partnering with Research Participants Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.

Working Toward Gender and Health Equities in Health Care

Saturday, July 26: 1-5 p.m.
Westin Harbour Castle, Queens Quay

This workshop aims to shed light on the systemic factors contributing to these inequities and their impact on women’s health. Attendees will gain insight into the historical roots of gender bias in health research, analyze specific cases of how these biases perpetuate inequities, and explore actionable strategies to advocate for inclusive practices. This session will empower participants to challenge the status quo and contribute to creating a health care system that better addresses the unique needs of all genders. Through an engaging exploration of real-world examples, participants will uncover the disparities between genders in health data, research methodologies and technological design.

This workshop is organized by the Diversity and Disparities Professional Interest Area of ISTAART.