CWS Identified Internships

Emory Center for Neurodegenerative Disease
Emory Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
American Cities Program – Atlanta

At the Emory Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, research cuts across traditional academic departments and scientific disciplines to focus on mechanisms of neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and brain repair. Neurodegeneration is a common theme of many nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, head trauma, epilepsy and stroke. These disorders are devastating and expensive, with annual costs currently exceeding several hundred billion dollars in the United States alone, and current treatments are inadequate. Adding to the urgency of the problem is the fact that the incidence of these age-related disorders is increasing rapidly as population demographics change.

Quick Stats:

• Emory has a large and outstanding faculty who perform cutting edge neurodegenerative disease research
• Research spans from genetic and environmental factors that cause disease, to development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, to clinical testing of new treatments
• Emory Healthcare has a large and outstanding clinical faculty who provide comprehensive care, education and support for affected individuals and their families

Internship Description:

Center for Neurodegenerative Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
There are several possible internship opportunities including both basic science research as well as clinically relevant projects.
Laboratory based “bench” projects, using state of the art technology and hand’s on work on the practical aspects of research studies.

• • Investigating the effects of electrical stimulation of the basal ganglia or thalamus on the neuronal activity in the basal ganglia in awake monkeys. These studies often involve microinjections to identify pharmacological steps involved in the observed stimulation responses. The studies are part of a larger research program that aims to identify abnormalities in brain activity in movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.
  • Neurophysiological investigations of learning and memory in behaving primates.

Clinical related investigations

• • Cognitive Rehabilitation in patients with mild cognitive impairment. We are investigating the use of cognitive rehabilitation in patients with mild cognitive impairment, which is generally believed to be the preclinical phase of Alzheimer’s disease. Our research focuses specifically on the use of explicit memory training and assesses changes in memory functioning using both behavior and fMRI. Interns will have direct patient contact and will be responsible for teaching the memory rehabilitation techniques. Interns will also receive exposure to fMRI procedures including paradigm development and data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Interns will discuss their research progress during weekly laboratory meetings, which also provide a time for relevant research literature to be reviewed and discussed.
  • Opportunities to participate in efforts aimed at recruiting research subjects for ongoing studies combined with opportunities to educate the public on the causes and treatments of neurodegenerative disease through creation of brochures, newsletters & website development and video creation/editing.

Ideal Internship Qualification: