— Interdisciplinary experts gather to address the future of tau research —

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 25, 2024 — Leading global researchers from academia, industry and government will convene for the Tau2024 Global Conference, March 25-26, 2024, in Washington, D.C., and online. The conference, held in partnership by the Alzheimer’s Association, CurePSP and The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, provides a forum dedicated to collaboration and discussion of key issues impacting this essential aspect of dementia research.

Tau is a protein with multiple functions, including helping stabilize the internal skeleton of nerve cells in the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease, an abnormal form of tau builds up and causes the internal skeleton to fall apart. Abnormal forms of tau protein cling together to form “tangles.” Tau tangles and beta-amyloid plaques are the hallmark brain changes of Alzheimer’s.

“The Tau2024 conference is unique because of its focus on research and therapies for neurodegenerative diseases caused by the abnormal accumulation of tau proteins,” said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead. “These diseases, which include Alzheimer’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and frontotemporal degeneration affect tens of millions of people worldwide and are currently incurable.”

“We are proud to join forces with global leaders at the Tau2024 Global Conference. Together, we’re forging new pathways in tauopathy research and enabling new collaborations,” said Kristophe Diaz, Ph.D., CurePSP’s executive director and chief science officer. “This third iteration of a tauopathy-focused international gathering amplifies hope for our community and those living with these fast-progressing and hard-to-diagnose incurable diseases.”

“The Tau2024 Global Conference uniquely provides a front-row seat to the most cutting-edge developments in tauopathy research,” said Jeremy Smith, president of The Rainwater Charitable Foundation. “This gathering creates the optimal environment for learning and building collaborations that will accelerate research discoveries, ultimately getting us closer to effective treatments.”

The Tau2024 program features an interdisciplinary viewpoint with sessions on global perspectives of tauopathies, biomarker discovery and development, causes and risk factors, treatment approaches, and clinical trial design and enrollment.

The conference includes a reception hosted by The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, which will present its prestigious Rainwater Prize at the event. Conference fellowships to the next Tau Global Conference and the next CurePSP annual meeting will be awarded.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers year-round opportunities for the scientific community to network and learn about Alzheimer’s and dementia research, including the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® (AAIC®), the largest and most influential meeting in Alzheimer’s and dementia science.
 

About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

About Tau2024

The Tau2024 Global Conference is an in-person and online conference for academia, industry, philanthropy and government scientists to discuss tau-based biology, biomarkers and therapeutics, attract talent and funding to the study of tauopathies, and increase interdisciplinary alignment and collaboration around the challenges in tau research.

About CurePSP

CurePSP is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the awareness, care and cure for three neurodegenerative diseases: progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). As a catalyst for new treatments and a cure, CurePSP establishes important partnerships and funds critical research internationally. Through its advocacy and support efforts, CurePSP enhances education, care delivery and quality of life for people living with PSP, CBD and MSA and their families. Science, community and hope are at the heart of CurePSP’s mission and all its services. CurePSP is a registered 501(c)(3) charity within the United States (EIN: 52-1704978). For more information, please visit www.curepsp.org.

About The Rainwater Charitable Foundation

The Rainwater Charitable Foundation (RCF) was created in the early 1990s by renowned private equity investor and philanthropist Richard E. Rainwater. The RCF supports a range of programs in family economic security funding, medical research, and other worthy causes. In 2009, the RCF added the Tau Consortium after Rainwater was diagnosed with PSP, which affects nerve cells that control walking, balance, vision, speech, and swallowing. In order to deliver on its mission to accelerate the development of new diagnostics and treatments for primary tauopathies, like PSP, The Rainwater Charitable Foundation’s Medical Research team now manages several programs including the Tau Consortium, Tauopathy Challenge Workshop, and the Rainwater Prize. For more information, visit: https://rainwatercharitablefoundation.org.