Dr. Ances’ research focuses on developing novel neuroimaging biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases- especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD). He concentrates on functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography methods to detect early changes in the brain due to AD, and has pioneered the use of advanced neuroimaging techniques (including ASL and BOLD resting state functional connectivity) to study neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Ances has assisted collaborators in the United States and abroad in implementing advanced neuroimaging techniques.

Dr. Handen is a clinical psychologist with over 35 years’ experience as a researcher and clinician in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. His research involves some of the first published amyloid PET scan studies with adults with Down syndrome. In 2009, Dr. Handen and his colleagues initiated a NIA-funded, multicenter longitudinal study of amyloid deposition in the Down syndrome population and its impact on cognition. Currently, he is co-principal investigator of the coordinating center for a NIA/NICHD-funded, multicenter U01 study of biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome (Neurodegeneration in Adults Down Syndrome – NiAD).

Dr. Jicha serves as an Associate Center Director and leads the Clinical Core of the UK , NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Center. He also serves as the Medical Director of Kentucky Telecare and directs the Telemedicine Cognitive Clinic at the University of Kentucky, designed to reach out to rural populations across Kentucky for both clinical and research-related activities in the area of AD and related disorders. He is the principle investigator at UK for the National Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) Group, the Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial Consortium (ACTC), serves on the Clinical Task Force and Steering Committee for the National Institute of Aging Alzheimer’s Disease Center Program, and also serves as the immediate past Chair of the American Academy of Neurology Geriatric section, and as the current Chair for the International Alzheimer’s Association Clinical Trials Advancement and Methodology Professional Interest Group. His current research interests lie in the areas of preclinical disease states, mild cognitive impairment, vascular contributions to dementia, and clinical trials of disease modifying therapies for degenerative dementias.

Dr. Schmitt received his doctoral degree and completed a fellowship at the University of Akron, Ohio. His clinical interests include biostatistics, dementia, and HIV. Schmitt is the Mary Carter Award recipient for his work with patients with Down syndrome and neurodegenerative disease, and is a nationally and internationally renowned expert on neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s disease. He is a principal investigator and consultant on numerous grants from the NIH and other federal and state funding mechanisms. He has over 30 years of clinical experience in neurocognition.

Dr. Lott is a child neurologist at the University of California, Irvine and CHOC Children’s Hospital. He graduated from Ohio State University College of Medicine and received his training in pediatrics, neurology, and child neurology through Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He served as a Clinical Research Associate at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. He was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School as Clinical Director of the Eunice Kennedy Schriver Center from 1974-1983.

In 1983, Dr. Lott was recruited to the University of California, Irvine where he has been a tenured professor. In 2012, he became Emeritus Professor. He served as Director for the Division of Child Neurology from 1983-2011 and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics from 1990-2000. He directed the ACGME Child Neurology Residency Program at UCI from 1983-2011. In May 2000, he assumed the title of Associate Dean, Clinical Neuroscience for UCI’s School of Medicine. Currently has directed the Telemedicine program for the UCI Health Sciences. Dr. Lott has been a standing member of the Developmental Biology Study Section at NICHD and has served on many ad-hoc NIH committees.

Dr. Lott’s research interest is focused on development and aging in Down syndrome. He received two national awards for his research and has been commended by the California State Senate for his work on behalf of individuals with intellectual disabilities. In 2016, Dr. Lott received the annual research award from UCI’s Alzheimer’s disease program. He served as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Down Syndrome Society and is a Board member of the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County. Dr. Lott’s research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, Alzheimer’s Association, and the State of California. Dr. Lott has been cited among the “best doctors” for over 20 years.

Dr. Head received a master’s in psychology and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto, Canada. She received postdoctoral training at the Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Head moved to the University of Kentucky in January of 2009 and was a Professor and Associate Director of Education at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. Now at the University of California at Irvine, she is a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Head has published over 150 peer reviewed papers, over 30 review papers and book chapters. Dr. Head has dedicated over 20 years to the study of aging and Alzheimer’s disease with a focus on people with Down syndrome.