We are committed to promoting the advancement of dementia research skills in junior faculty through the provision of training resources. Established with the generous support of the Chawla family, the Isadore & Margaret Mezey award pays for conference expenses associated with selected junior investigator’s participation in national or international conferences focused on the latest discoveries in neurodegenerative research and clinical practices. Awardees have a keen interest in advancing their careers in the dementia field and use the award for participation in annual meetings associated with major brain-related associations or societies.
This spring’s recipients of the Isadore and Margaret Mezey Conference Award are:
Andrew Bender, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Andrew will present “Plasma phospo-tau predicts differences in white matter microstructural complexity and cognition in non-demented older adults” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this July.
Chelsea Cox, M.S.W., M.P.H., University of Michigan
Chelsea will present “U.S. Adults’ Likelihood to Participate in Dementia Prevention Clinical Trials: Results from the National Poll on Healthy Aging” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this July.
Sara Feldman, M.P.H., University of Michigan School of Public Health
Sarah will present “Interest in and perceived benefits and barriers of Alzheimer’s disease clinical and biomarker results disclosure among diverse participants and care partners” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this July.
Cesar Higgins Tejera, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., University of Michigan
Cesar will present “Identifying Pathways of Physiological Deterioration to Understand Racial Disparities in Cognitive Status: a 4way Mediation-Interaction Decomposition Analysis” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this July.
Youjin Jung, M.Eng., Wayne State University
Youjin will present “Plasma Nfl predicts default mode network functional connectivity in older adults at higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this July.
Katherine Kero, Ph.D., Wayne State University
Katherine will present “Metacognition in older African American adults during the COVID-19 pandemic” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this July.
Emily Morris, M.S., University of Michigan
Emily will present “Language and Immigrant Status Differences in Neuropsychological Performance Among Middle Eastern and North African Older Adults in Detroit” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this July.
Joongkyu Park, Ph.D., Wayne State University
Joongkyu will present “Local enrichment of CaMKIIa for memory improvement” at the Gordon Research Conference this June.
Taylor Rigby, Ph.D., University of Michigan
Taylor will present “Identification of Mild Cognitive Impairment Among Black and White Community Dwelling Older Adults Using NIH-Toolbox Cognition Tablet Battery” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this July.
Thank you to the Chawla family for their generosity in supporting the advancement of junior investigators’ careers in the dementia research field.