Elizabeth Rhodus, Ph.D., M.S., OTR/L, assistant professor of behavioral science and researcher at the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (SBCoA), has been appointed as a member of the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s (NACC) Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement (ORE) Core steering committee.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA)/National Institute of Health (NIH) funds 37 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) across the United States, including Sanders-Brown. The centers work to translate research advances into improved diagnosis and care and find ways to treat and possibly prevent Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Each has its own research focus and recruitment targets. However, all centers maintain longitudinal data of participants who are assessed annually. The annual data are maintained through the Uniform Data Set (UDS) and submitted to NACC, creating a national database.
NACC is advised by multiple steering committees to drive forward Alzheimer's disease research. These committees concentrate on specific scientific domains and operational priorities. They collectively provide the structural and scientific framework necessary for the ADRC program to fulfill its mission of advancing Alzheimer’s disease/ADRD research. Each committee plays a unique but interconnected role, ensuring that the program operates efficiently and continues to generate high-impact contributions to the field.
The ORE Core Steering Committee works to strengthen community engagement and expand participation in Alzheimer’s research. As a committee member, Rhodus will collaborate with national leaders to develop outreach strategies, promote educational initiatives and enhance recruitment efforts to ensure robust participation across the research network.
Rhodus’ research has focused on expanding outreach and engagement programs to urban and rural at-risk communities throughout Kentucky. This national recognition reflects her scientific leadership and ongoing contributions to the study of dementia.