Mission & Goals

The CTRND’s mission is to discover the earliest molecular triggers of neurodegeneration and use this new information to develop and evaluate future treatments and diagnostics for degenerative central nervous system conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other brain disorders.

Core Approach

Founded in 2010, the CTRND is a premier research center within UF’s College of Medicine. The center occupies more than 20,000 square feet of dedicated lab space to support collaborative research.

  • Our committed and passionate faculty and essential team members are conducting world-class translational research in neurodegenerative diseases.
  • We are developing interdisciplinary platforms at UF to catalyze the translation of discoveries to diagnostics and therapeutics that can benefit patients.
  • We are working as a team in a highly collaborative environment to address major unmet medical needs in the areas of brain neurodegenerative diseases.
  • We are conducting the most rigorous discovery science possible while also focusing on translating basic discoveries into practical clinical advances that can benefit those who suffer from these devastating disorders.

Center Goals

  • Make groundbreaking discoveries in neurodegenerative diseases, brain trauma and stroke.
  • Demonstrate major translational activity in the area of diagnostics and therapeutics of neurodegenerative diseases and stroke as evidenced by novel target identification, development of novel diagnostic tools and development of novel therapies.
  • Create infrastructure and models to support broader based translational activities across UF.
  • Enhance the national and international identity of UF as a major translational research institution for chronic neurodegenerative disease and stroke.
  • Provide superb training at all levels to scientists of diverse backgrounds and experiences in disease-oriented neurodegenerative research.