WAI Research

Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute is home to multi-layered research programs. WAI research projects include a focus on providing clinical care and education to dementia care providers and addressing the needs of communities of color who are traditionally under-represented in research and under-served in health care,  including African Americans and Latinos living with dementia and their caregivers. 

Implementing findings into daily practice

WAI Implementation Science Leader Maria Mora Pinzon, MD, MS, leads a research team focused on building tools and education programs to bring research findings into health care settings. Her research lab also focuses on access to medical care in diverse underrepresented communities and health disparities in Hispanic/Latino communities, with particular interest in improving access to care for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias for Hispanic/Latino individuals. Read more on the Mora Pinzon lab website.

Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention

With its academic home within the the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, the NIH-funded WRAP study is one of the largest and longest-running family history studies of Alzheimer’s disease in the world.

Now more than 25 years old, the WRAP cohort consists of nearly 2,000 individuals, many who have been enrolled in the study for a decade or longer. 

Bringing research to communities across Wisconsin

WAI scientists and program leaders coordinate research-based education and events for community members in Wisconsin; through programs like state-wide dementia care specialist trainings, Dementia Capable Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Dementia Resource Network, and the WAI Affiliated Dementia Diagnostic Clinic Network.

Each November, WAI shares updates in research and clinical care news  at our Annual Update in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. 

Researchers and program staff can apply for project support through the IEA Innovation Fund.