Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Selects PacBio as Technology Partner for Global Project to Advance Alzheimer’s Disease Research in North Africa

Core Viewpoint - The Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative (DAC) is launching the North African Dementia Registry (NADR) project in collaboration with PacBio, The American University in Cairo (AUC), and UCL to enhance understanding of Alzheimer's disease and dementia in diverse populations, particularly in North Africa [1][2][3] Group 1: Project Overview - The NADR is the first dementia-focused registry in North Africa, aiming to collect biosamples, conduct cognitive assessments, and perform digital phenotyping [2] - The initiative will create a comprehensive multi-omics dataset to explore genetic and environmental factors related to Alzheimer's disease [2][3] - Data generated will be accessible via the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative (ADDI) platform, promoting global research collaboration [3] Group 2: Technological Partnership - PacBio will provide its advanced long-read sequencing technology to generate high-quality genomic data essential for understanding the genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease [2][3] - The collaboration aims to identify new diagnostic tools and therapeutic solutions for Alzheimer's disease [3] Group 3: Importance of Diversity in Research - The project addresses the underrepresentation of North African populations in dementia research, which is crucial given the region's genetic diversity [2][3] - Insights gained from this research are expected to inform locally relevant prevention and intervention strategies [3] Group 4: Broader Implications - DAC aims to extend global research efforts beyond traditional Western populations to include diverse populations in the Global South, where most Alzheimer's patients reside [4] - The initiative aligns with DAC's goal to implement health system solutions that are globally applicable and to promote brain health throughout the lifespan [4][5]