What We Do
- Focus of the Roskamp Institute
The Roskamp Institute is devoted to understanding causes and
finding cures for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders
and addictions. The Institute utilizes a broad range of scientific
approaches to understanding the causes of and potential therapies
for these disorders with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. The
Institute is located in Sarasota, Florida and operates a memory
clinic and clinical research offices in Tampa, Florida.
- Alzheimer's Disease Research
A main goal of the Roskamp Institute is to discover novel and
effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Previous work of
Institute researchers (Drs. Michael Mullan and Fiona Crawford)
has shown that certain genetic variations may cause or predispose
humans to Alzheimer's disease, and these genetic variations have
given scientists clues about the Alzheimer's disease process.
In particular these studies led to the identification of a small
protein called ß-amyloid as central to the disease process.
ß-amyloid accumulates in all cases of Alzheimer's disease
and, as it does so, neurons are damaged leading to their malfunction,
which is reflected as memory loss and other cognitive change.
This process, once begun, is naturally relentless, but much evidence
suggests that if ß-amyloid could be prevented from accumulating,
the disease would be halted. Much of the research in the Institute
involves experimentation on ways to prevent ß-amyloid from
accumulating and damaging the brain.
The Roskamp Institute researchers are investigating the contribution
of various vascular factors in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease.
In particular, they are focusing on the biological activity of
the Alzheimer's disease ß-amyloid peptides in cerebral blood
vessels. They have shown that the ß-amyloid peptides can
constrict human cerebrovessels and that the cerebral blood flow
in transgenic animal models of the disease is reduced (see figure
1 below), possibly leading to neuronal damage and memory loss
by impairing normal nutrient delivery and waste removal in the
brain.
The Roskamp Institute researchers have now dissected the molecular
events at the origin of the vasoactive effects of ß-amyloid
peptides and are testing various drugs able to counteract the
effect of ß-amyloid in the vasculature in order to develop
new therapies against Alzheimer's disease. This work is also providing
new knowledge regarding the mechanisms controlling the growth
of blood vessels. This is particularly important for the design
of anti-cancerous drugs since the growth of tumors is dependent
on the formation of new blood vessels that allow the delivery
of nutrients and oxygen to the growing tumor cells.
- Drug Demand Reduction Research
The Roskamp Institute is the recipient of a contract from the
Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy for research on the genomics and proteomics
of drug abuse. Equipped with this latest technology, the Roskamp
Institute is analyzing the genomes and proteomes from diverse
tissue sources. Comparative genomic and proteomic analysis of
drug-exposed versus non-exposed cells and their sub-cellular fractions
is underway. The primary goal of this work is to identify biomarkers
of drug abuse, and to explore the etiology of the addictions
- Traumatic Brain Injury Research
In studies that complement the extensive Alzheimer's research
of the Roskamp Institute, other aspects of neuronal dysfunction,
degeneration and repair are being examined through work on Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI). With over 1 million traumatic brain injuries
in the US each year, TBI is a common and major health problem,
and an estimated 5.3 million Americans are living today with a
TBI-related disability.
Through collaborations with the Tampa Veterans Administration
and the Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program, Institute researchers
previously demonstrated a role for the APOE gene in mediating
recovery after TBI. Cognitive recovery was poorer in TBI sufferers
carrying one or two copies of the e4 form of the APOE gene (the
same form that contributes risk for Alzheimer's disease) versus
those that carried no copies of that form.
In order to better understand the role of APOE and other factors
in recovery after head injury, we are examining global gene expression
in injured brain tissue compared to non-injured, where different
forms of the APOE gene are present. Through analysis of these
genetic responses and cognitive and behavioral changes resulting
from TBI, cellular pathways of neuronal damage and repair may
be identified. The ultimate goal of this work is to identify new
ways of treating TBI by interrupting these pathways.
- Tourettes Syndrome and Childhood Disorders Research
The Roskamp Institute also has an active childhood disorders
research program that has been exploring the genetic contribution
to Tourettes Syndrome (TS) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD). Patients with TS, ADHD, autism and other childhood
disorders, and their families, participate in these studies by
contributing blood samples and family history information. Characterization
of genes and proteins which may play a role in TS is underway
and one gene in particular has been identified at the site of
chromosomal disruption occurring in some TS patients. We are currently
working to understand how this gene may cause TS.
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