- Roskamp Institute
The [http://www.rfdn.org/ Roskamp Institute] , founded by the
Robert Roskamp Foundation inSarasota, Florida in 2003, is a non-profitbiomedical research center with an emphasis onAlzheimer's disease .cite news |url= http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=61664 |title= Sarasota's Roskamp Institute Discovers New Class Of Drugs That Can Impact Alzheimer's Disease |author= |format=html |work=Medical News Today |date=26 January 2007 ] It also operates a memory clinic and clinical research offices inTampa ,Florida .cite web |url= http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/stu93779.html |title= Trial Information Summary: A Phase IV Alzheimer's Disease Trial studying the effectiveness and safety of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) in the Hispanic population |format=html |work= CenterWatch.com |date=1 September 2006 ] The institute is focused on finding the causes and treatments for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly the Alzheimer's disease.The Institute's lead researchers, Dr.
Michael Mullan and Dr. Fiona Crawfordcite web |url= http://www.roskampinstitute.com/about_who.html |title= Who We Are: Executive Leadership |format=html |work= roskampinstitute.com ] were members of a team of scientists who discovered in the early 1990s that the onset of Alzheimer’s disease was directly related to the accumulation of the β-amyloid protein.cite web |url= http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v353/n6347/abs/353844a0.html |title= Early-onset Alzheimer's disease caused by mutations at codon 717 of the β-amyloid precursor protein gene |author= Chartier-Harlin "et al." |format=html |work= Nature |date=31 October 1991 ]The Roskamp Institute tied up with the [http://www.tcd.ie/Neuroscience/ Institute of Neuroscience] of
Trinity College, Dublin to launch a clinical trial study in September 2006 to determine if the drugNilvadipine might be useful in the cure of Alzheimer's disease.cite web |url= http://www.rfdn.org/news_release_090806.html |title= Renowned US Neuroscience Institute Announces Partnership with Trinity College |format=html |work= Roskamp Institute |date= ] The study has been funded by the Roskamp Institute. The aim of the study is to determine if Nilvadipine can alter β-amyloid protein. Nilvadipine is currently used to cure high blood pressure and is available in Ireland on prescription.The institute is currently housed in a 41,000 sq ft scientific research facility (formerly used by
Bausch & Lomb ) in Sarasota, Florida. The institute facility containsproteomics ,genomics ,mass spectrometry , andchemistry labs. Lead by Drs. Michael Mullan and Fiona Crawford, the organization employs more than 50 scientists, technicians, and other research staff.References
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