Nashville, TN - The Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center (VMAC) has been awarded a $25 million, five-year Center of Excellence grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging—making it the first center of its kind in Tennessee.
This milestone builds on a $5 million exploratory grant received in 2020 that laid the foundation for the center’s research into Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). The new designation marks VMAC’s recognition as a national leader in the fight against dementia, with a focus on vascular risk factors prevalent in the Southeast.
Dr. Angela Jefferson, VMAC director, called the recognition “a tremendous honor” and emphasized the expanded efforts in community education, professional development, and national ADRD research under the new funding.
The NIH honor further solidifies Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s place at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research, with VMAC serving aging populations in Middle Tennessee and across the region.