The Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center has several cohort studies funded by the National Institute on Aging and will consider requests for ant- or post-mortem biological specimens for ongoing funded studies or for preliminary studies to support applications for external funding. These studies include:

The Clinical Core of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Core Center (P30AG10161): The Clinical Core collects clinical data primarily from persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

The Religious Orders Study Core of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Core Center (P30AG10161): The Religious Orders Study collects clinical data, serum, plasma and DNA from older Catholic nuns, priests, and brothers free of dementia at the time of enrollment all of whom have agreed to brain donation at the time of death. Participants undergo annual clinical evaluation.

The Rush Memory and Aging Project (R01AG17917; R01AG24490): The Rush Memory and Aging Project collects clinical data, serum, plasma, and DNA from older persons free of dementia at the time of enrollment all of whom have agreed to donate brain, spinal cord, nerve, and muscle at the time of death. Participants undergo annual clinical evaluation.

Minority Aging Research Study (R01AG22081): The Minority Aging Research Study collects clinical data, serum, plasma, and DNA from older African Americans who agreed to annual clinical evaluation.

Requests for biospecimens will be reviewed by Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center's Biospecimen Distribution Committee. Review criteria include: the scientific merit of the proposal, evaluation of plans to exploit the full potential of the resources, ability of the investigators to carry out the proposed work, federal or foundation funding source, and amount and availability of biospecimens. Prospective recipients of specimens in limited supply are strongly encouraged to work closely and collaboratively with a Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center investigator in order to take maximal advantage of limited biospecimens.