ORCATECH Pilot Grant Program | Biomedical Research Partnership | Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study | Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer's Care | ORCATECH Mini Living Laboratory
ORCATECH Pilot Grant Program
Click here for information about funded projects.
The overarching objective of ORCATECH is to improve technology as well as to translate that technology into useful tools to improve the health of the aging. Specifically, the Center seeks to be responsive to the national Roybal Center’s initiatives of fostering translational research and disseminating knowledge. ORCATECH has a particular focus on two key reasons for loss of independence: decline in cognitive function and decline in mobility. In this context, ORCATECH will fund up to three pilot projects of up to $50,000 (additional indirect costs are negotiable) each year of our Roybal Center grant (2004-2009).
Biomedical Research Partnership (BRP)
The BRP project is a 5 year, $7 million project funded throug the National Institute on Aging. Researchers will follow 250 Portland area elders with in-home monitoring technologies as well as gold-standard neuropsychometric testing for three years. The goal is to determine whether the monitoring data from activity and computer sensors can be used to effectively predict when an elder is starting develop cognitive decline.
Our specific aims are to:1) Determine if continuous, unobtrusive monitoring of motor and cognitive activities detects incident cognitive decline in seniors living in typical community settings
2) Develop novel algorithms and assessment techniques for detecting motor and cognitive change in these community settings and in the context of the ongoing BRP, to test evolving sensor technology
3) Identify the monitoring needs of, and optimal communication channels for lay individuals and health care professional.
Funded By: NIH NIA R01AG024059
Recruitment: Recruitment for this study is taking place in Portland-area continuing care retirement communities. We are currently looking for subjects at the Willamette View, Rose Villa and Alberta Simmons communities.
Staff: Tracy Zitzelberger, M.P.H. – Project Manager
Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Group (ADCS):
Home Based Assessments Study
The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) works to advance research in the development of drugs and treatments that might be useful in the detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. ORCATECH's role in the home based assessments study is to provide technology for the computer-based memory testing arm of the study that will enroll 200 subjects across the US. This technology includes a computer-based memory test that makes use of voice recognition and touch screen technology, as well as the medtracker - a pillbox device developed by ORCATECH researchers for the medication adherence study which collects data about when a person opens and closes the lids of their pillbox. OHSU is also one of the 27 sites around the country enrolling subjects in this 4 year study.
Funded By: NIH NIA
Recruitment: We are currently recruiting subjects in the Portland area.
Partners: BME, CSLU, Layton Center
Staff: Luis Sauceda-Cerda
Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer's Care (ETAC)
The Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer Care (ETAC) consortium is a jointly planned program of the National Alzheimer's Association, the Intel Corporation and Agilent Technologies.
ORCATECH Living Laboratory
The ORCATECH Living Laboratory is a resource to investigators piloting technologies in the homes of enthusiastic volunteers before larger scale research is conducted. The mini-living laboratory is a network of 20-30 community residences outfitted with a basic set of devices for continuous remote assessment of activity and computer use. Additionally, new technologies will be studied along side known methods to compare their effectiveness and reliability.
For more information, contact Nicole Larimer.