New UNLV Center advances global fight against Alzheimer’s

LAS VEGAS – June 15, 2020 – The UNLV department of brain health has formally launched the Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, offering hope through scientific discovery for patients who are suffering from Alzheimer’s, dementia and other brain and neurological diseases.

The Center is the latest in a series of milestones from the department of brain health and the School of Integrated Health Sciences to better understand how a healthy brain functions, to improve care and treatment of people with brain diseases, and to identify mechanisms of brain disorders. The Center will drive research, track the progress of clinical trials around the world, and provide learning opportunities in the science of developing treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative disorders.

“The Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience will advance the science of brain health in tangible ways to transform the lives of millions of people affected by neurodegenerative diseases today and into the future,” said Ronald. T. Brown, dean of the School of Integrated Health Sciences.

The Center will be led by UNLV research professor Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, who previously served as founding director of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at UCLA and founding director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. Dr. Cummings is a renowned clinical trials and Alzheimer’s expert. He has published nearly 800 scientific papers and 44 books devoted to Alzheimer’s, clinical trials, and treatment development.

“The Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience will allow our programs at UNLV to be in the forefront of learning how to get more and better treatments to patients faster. We are building the foundation for cures,” said Dr. Cummings.

At the heart of the Center is its clinical trial observatory. This unique scientific platform is dedicated to tracking most Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials throughout the world, acquiring data from the successes and failures of each trial, enabling researchers to learn how to improve trials and accelerate drug development.

“The observatory will strengthen the science of treatment development and systematically reveal how to make trials better, faster, and cheaper,” said Dr. Cummings. “Application of these lessons will accelerate treatments to dramatically improve people’s lives.”

The Center is made possible thanks to a $6 million pledge from philanthropist Joy Chambers-Grundy and the late Reg Grundy. Mr. Grundy was a successful and well-loved Australian entrepreneur best known for his many television productions, which remain popular with audiences throughout the country.

“My darling late husband, Reg, and I have always been drawn to support this wonderful cause that aims to end the suffering for so many people,” said Joy Chambers-Grundy. “Our fervent hope is that scientists across the world can collaborate with Dr. Cummings and other top researchers at UNLV to find treatments for brain disorders and help people thrive in their daily lives.”

The Chambers-Grundy gift also supports an endowed chair for Dr. Jefferson Kinney, professor and chair of the UNLV department of brain health and an endowed professorship for Dr. Cummings. The center was formally approved by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents at its June meeting.

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The UNLV department of brain health was launched by the School of Integrated Health Sciences in 2019 to advance research, education, and practice to benefit brain health and the care and treatment of people with brain disorders. The department’s faculty specialize in basic and clinical research in neurodegenerative disease, neuropsychology, and occupational therapy.