Alzheimer’s Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute (AA-ISRI): Insights From Program Alumni

TL;DR

The Alzheimer’s Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute offers free training and mentorship to dementia researchers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and career development.

Contribution

The program introduces a structured, interdisciplinary approach to dementia research training with peer and mentorship support.

Findings

Participants gain insights through peer group meetings and mentorship focused on grant writing and career coaching.

The program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration across diverse fields like public health, nursing, and social work.

AA-ISRI provides opportunities to interact with field leaders and funding agency representatives.

Abstract

Held annually since 2021, the Alzheimer’s Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute (AA-ISRI) provides an immersive, no-cost professional development opportunity for dementia researchers. The week-long institute provides training on innovations in dementia science, offers peer group support and networking, and structured mentorship centered around grant writing and career coaching to ensure success in a research career. Organized across two overarching research tracks (i.e., psychosocial, public health) and by participant interests, daily peer group meetings (4-6 people) are led by established mentors. Presenters in this session have all completed the AA-ISRI program and will share experiences and insights related to participation. Presenters’ experiences broadly aligned with three overarching themes: (1) an interdisciplinary approach to dementia research training, (2) emphasis on peer and mentorship networking, and (3) opportunities to interact with field-leaders and funding agency representatives. AA-ISRI, by definition, is interdisciplinary—accepting participants from a variety of educational backgrounds (e.g., MD, PhD) and experiences (e.g., public health, nursing, social work, medicine). As such, the program curriculum introduces the state-of-the-science across multiple subdisciplines within the wider field of dementia research (e.g., pathology/ treatment, trial design, participant recruitment, implementation science). In small group meetings, participants receive feedback on an in-progress grant proposal and learn to develop an effective ‘elevator pitch’ for their research. Finally, each participant has one-on-one mentorship meetings with leading experts in their area and opportunities to interact with research funders. Thus, AA-ISRI provides an impactful opportunity for early career and new-to-the-field investigators, as well as more established researchers transitioning into dementia research.