Charleston, South Carolina, March 28, 2024 – New Vision Research (NVR) is proud to announce the awardees of the 13th Annual Charleston Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (CCAD).  CCAD is hosted at the iconic Charleston Place Hotel every year bringing together early-career scientists from across the country to share their innovative research in the field of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 

One of the highlights of this year’s CCAD was the announcement of two recipients of the New Vision Investigator Award, each receiving a $100,000 grant to support their research projects in AD. This year’s awardees are Rowan Saloner, Ph.D. at the University of California -San Francisco and Lingxuan Chen, Ph.D. at the University of California -Irvine. 

Rowan Saloner Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow, received an award for his research in Multi-tissue biomarker discovery in genetic and sporadic frontotemporal lobar degeneration. His research focuses on the biological pathways that are affected early in the disease, before irreversible brain atrophy and cognitive decline occur. By screening thousands of molecules in a drop of blood he can longitudinally assess them and try to identify the earliest clinical symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease. 

Lingxuan Chen Ph.D., an assistant project scientist, received her award for her research in Retrosplenial cortex hyperexcitability as an early driver of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Chen will investigate how the activities of individual neurons (brain cells) and network of neurons alter early in the disease, as well as how these early changes exacerbate at the late stage of the disease and ultimately affect brain functions. 

These awards emphasize NVR’s commitment to investing in high-risk, high-reward research. Traditionally, early-career scientists, as well as those with more novel approaches to their research, face considerable difficulty in securing research funds for their work. New Vision Research changes this paradigm by intentionally connecting and supporting early-career researchers with innovative ideas through CCAD.

“At New Vision Research, we believe that collaboration across scientific fields studying the same disease is the key to driving innovation and making significant strides in medical research,” NVR Director, Joseph Helpern Ph.D., explains. “CCAD serves as a catalyst for the cross-pollination of scientific research, bringing together bright minds from diverse backgrounds to tackle one of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time.” 

Looking ahead, New Vision Research remains committed to expanding the CCAD model of advancing science to other areas of research.

About New Vision Research: 

New Vision Research (NVR) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the way medical research is funded. NVR invests in early-career researchers with innovative ideas, fosters collaboration through conferences like the Charleston Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease, and supports emerging leaders in various research fields through its New Vision Research Scholar programs.

Media Contact:

Tara Coker / Marketing Coordinator

tcoker@newvisionresearch.org

843-610-5452

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