Groundbreaking Alzheimer's Research Honored with Jeffrey L. Morby Prize

The Cure Alzheimer’s Fund has awarded the second annual Jeffrey L. Morby Prize to Andrew S. Yoo, Ph.D., and Zhao Sun, Ph.D., for their significant contributions to Alzheimer's disease research. Their work, published in Science, introduces a novel method to study aged neurons in the lab, bypassing the need for brain biopsies and enabling more accurate modeling of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. This advancement allows scientists to observe key disease features, such as amyloid beta plaque buildup, providing new avenues for understanding and potentially treating the disease.

The Morby Prize, named after the late co-founder of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, Jeffrey L. Morby, recognizes research that transforms the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and opens new paths for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. The award includes a $200,000 grant for the senior author’s lab to further Alzheimer’s disease-related research. Meg Smith, CEO of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, highlighted the importance of the award in honoring Jeff Morby’s legacy and supporting innovative research that has a meaningful impact on the Alzheimer’s community.

Dr. Yoo expressed enthusiasm about the potential of their research to dissect how aging contributes to neurodegeneration and to investigate neuron-intrinsic aging mechanisms in specific cell types. This work not only advances the scientific understanding of Alzheimer’s disease but also holds promise for developing targeted treatment strategies, marking a significant step forward in the fight against this debilitating condition.