CHANCELL-ING: Finding a Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease While Forming Friendships – UC Davis

UC Davis Comprehensive Strategy for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Report on Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report outlines the multi-faceted approach of the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) in addressing Alzheimer’s disease. The institution’s initiatives in research, clinical care, and community outreach directly contribute to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). With Alzheimer’s affecting one in nine Americans over 65, UC Davis’s work represents a critical public service aimed at mitigating a global health challenge.

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

UC Davis is at the forefront of promoting healthy lives and well-being by combating Alzheimer’s, a leading non-communicable disease. The Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is central to this mission.

• Advanced Research and Clinical Trials: The center actively conducts clinical trials and evaluations to develop innovative treatments and preventative strategies.
• Key Scientific Discoveries: Research teams have made significant findings, including identifying an MRI biomarker that predicts dementia and understanding how depression impacts brain volume.
• Community Support Systems: Programs like Alzheimer’s Buddies address the mental well-being of patients by forming friendships and easing the isolation often associated with the disease, directly supporting targets for mental health.

Contributions to SDG 9 and SDG 17: Innovation and Partnerships

The university’s efforts are characterized by a cross-disciplinary approach that fosters innovation and relies on strategic partnerships, key components of SDG 9 and SDG 17.

1. Technological Innovation (SDG 9): The work of researchers like Audrey Fan, who develops new MRI technologies to understand brain oxygen utilization, exemplifies the commitment to scientific innovation. This research is fundamental to developing future applications for prevention and treatment.
2. Interdisciplinary Collaboration (SDG 17): A partnership between the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center leverages artificial intelligence for neuropathology analysis. This collaboration demonstrates the power of combining diverse fields to solve complex health problems.
3. Reliance on Federal Funding (SDG 17): The success of this research is heavily dependent on federal funding, highlighting the importance of public-private and public-public partnerships to advance scientific discovery for the public good.

Fostering SDG 4 and SDG 10: Quality Education and Reduced Inequalities

UC Davis integrates education with research and community service while actively working to reduce health disparities among vulnerable populations.

Student Engagement and Quality Education (SDG 4)

• Undergraduate Research: Students like Claire Hsu are actively involved in high-level research, receiving accolades such as the Chancellor’s Award for Undergraduate Research. This provides invaluable hands-on education and prepares the next generation of scientists.
• Community Service Learning: Student leaders in the Alzheimer’s Buddies program, including Sharan Tamber and Zoe Routh, develop essential skills in communication, empathy, and leadership while providing a vital community service.

Addressing Health Disparities (SDG 10)

• Targeted Research: Professor Chen-Nee Chuah’s research utilizes AI to analyze neuropathology specifically within Hispanic/Latino populations, a group disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s. This work is a direct effort to reduce health inequalities and ensure that scientific advancements benefit all segments of society.

Conclusion

UC Davis demonstrates a holistic and impactful commitment to addressing the Alzheimer’s crisis. Through pioneering research, innovative technology, interdisciplinary partnerships, and a focus on community well-being, the institution makes significant contributions to achieving global Sustainable Development Goals. The integration of student learning with cutting-edge science and compassionate care provides a comprehensive model for tackling one of the 21st century’s most pressing health challenges, working towards a future where Alzheimer’s is a preventable and treatable condition.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s central theme is Alzheimer’s disease, a major non-communicable disease. It discusses the disease’s prevalence (“1 in 9 Americans over 65”), its impact as a leading cause of death, and the comprehensive efforts in research, treatment, and community support to combat it and promote the well-being of affected individuals.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article highlights the role of UC Davis students in both advanced research and community service. It mentions students like Sharan Tamber and Claire Hsu contributing to research labs and Zoe Routh leading a volunteer club, thereby gaining practical, technical, and soft skills (“communication, team-building skills and empathy”) that enhance their education and prepare them for future leadership roles.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article heavily emphasizes scientific research and technological innovation. It details the work of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in conducting clinical trials, developing “new MRI technologies,” and leveraging “artificial intelligence in neuropathology analysis.” This focus on research and development to solve a major health challenge is a core component of SDG 9.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article explicitly addresses health disparities by mentioning a research initiative that focuses on the Hispanic/Latino population, which is described as being “disproportionately affected by the disease.” This effort to understand and ultimately address the unequal burden of Alzheimer’s on a specific demographic group aligns directly with the goal of reducing inequalities.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article showcases multiple forms of collaboration. This includes a “cross-disciplinary approach” within the university (Engineering partnering with the Alzheimer’s Center), partnerships between the university and the community (Alzheimer’s Buddies visiting senior care facilities), and the crucial role of public funding (“federally funded research”) to sustain these efforts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The article’s focus on finding “solutions, treatments and community support” for Alzheimer’s, a leading cause of death and a non-communicable disease, directly supports this target. The Alzheimer’s Buddies program, which “eases the feelings of isolation,” contributes to promoting mental well-being.
2. Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The article describes students gaining research experience in advanced labs (Claire Hsu) and developing leadership, communication, and empathy skills through volunteer management (Zoe Routh), which are relevant skills for their future careers.
3. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries…encouraging innovation. The work of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, including developing “new MRI technologies” and applying “artificial intelligence,” is a clear example of enhancing scientific research and innovation to address a societal challenge. The call to support “federally funded research” also aligns with this target.
4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The specific research project mentioned that analyzes neuropathology in individuals who identify as Hispanic/Latino is a direct action to address a health inequality affecting a particular ethnic group, aiming for better health outcomes for this population.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article provides examples of these partnerships, such as the university’s (public) cross-disciplinary research, its reliance on federal funding (public-public), and the Alzheimer’s Buddies program (civil society partnership) collaborating with senior care facilities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicators for Target 3.4: The article provides several statistics that serve as proxy indicators for the burden of disease, which research aims to reduce. These include: “1 in 9 Americans over 65 is afflicted with the disease,” it is the “seventh leading cause of death,” and the number of afflicted is “expected to grow to 13.8 million.” Progress would be measured by a reduction in these figures over time.
2. Implied Indicators for Target 4.4: The article points to qualitative indicators of skill acquisition. For example, a student receiving the “Chancellor’s Award for Undergraduate Research” is an indicator of achieving excellence in technical skills. The description of a student’s volunteer work supporting “communication, team-building skills and empathy that will shape her own leadership” is an indicator of relevant soft skill development.
3. Implied Indicators for Target 9.5: The article implies indicators related to research and development. The mention of “federally funded research” points to R&D expenditure as a key input. The specific outputs mentioned, such as the discovery of an “MRI biomarker that predicts dementia” and the development of “new MRI technologies,” serve as concrete indicators of innovation and enhanced scientific research.
4. Implied Indicators for Target 10.2: The existence of a specific research project focusing on a “population disproportionately affected by the disease” (Hispanic/Latino) is a direct indicator of an action taken to address health inequalities. The findings from this research could lead to more quantitative indicators related to diagnosis and treatment efficacy within this group.
5. Implied Indicators for Target 17.17: The article provides qualitative indicators of partnerships. The “cross-disciplinary approach” between the engineering department and the medical research center is an indicator of an internal multi-stakeholder partnership. The Alzheimer’s Buddies program operating in “four [senior care facilities] in Davis” is a quantifiable indicator of the scale of a university-civil society partnership.

Summary of Findings

Source: ucdavis.edu