On May 15, 2026, researchers, clinicians, trainees, and staff from across North Carolina gathered at the UNC Friday Center in Chapel Hill for the 4th Annual Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) SLAM‑DUNC Symposium—the Symposium for Learning about Alzheimer’s Disease‑related Medical Research at Duke & UNC

Attendees view research posters during the 4th Annual Duke/UNC ADRC SLAM‑DUNC Symposium in a large indoor atrium.

Hosted by the Duke/UNC ADRC Research Education Component (REC), SLAM‑DUNC continues to serve as a cornerstone event for fostering cross‑institutional collaboration and highlighting cutting‑edge research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). The annual symposium brings together investigators at all career stages, from trainees to senior faculty, to share discoveries, build networks, and accelerate progress in brain health research.

A Full Day of Translational and Clinical Science

The 2026 agenda featured a robust lineup of scientific presentations, poster sessions, and clinical insights spanning basic, translational, and population‑based research. The day opened with REC Scholar presentations from Dr. Miles Bryan and Dr. Melissa Walsh, highlighting advanced neuroimaging approaches to tau immunotherapies and menopause‑related synaptic vulnerability.

A speaker stands at a wooden podium labeled “UNC Friday Center – Friday Conference Center” while delivering a presentation during the 4th Annual Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) SLAM‑DUNC Symposium. The presenter, identified as Dr. Miles Bryan, faces an audience seated out of frame and speaks into a fixed microphone mounted on the podium. A presentation screen is partially visible to the right, displaying a slide with a light background. The room appears to be a conference space with neutral‑colored walls and professional lighting, consistent with an academic or healthcare symposium setting.

A presenter stands at a wooden podium labeled “UNC Friday Center – Friday Conference Center” while delivering a presentation during the 4th Annual Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) SLAM‑DUNC Symposium. The presenter, identified as Dr. Melissa Walsh, faces the audience and uses a laptop positioned on the podium while speaking into a fixed microphone. A projected presentation slide is partially visible on a screen to the right. Audience members are seated in the foreground, slightly out of focus. The setting appears to be a professional conference room with neutral walls and presentation lighting.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Timothy Hughes, Associate Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, who presented “Targeting the vascular contribution to dementia.” His talk underscored the growing recognition of vascular and metabolic factors as critical contributors to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease risk.

Dr. Timothy Hughs presents at the podium during the 4th Annual Duke/UNC ADRC SLAM‑DUNC Symposium. — Dr. Timothy Hughs presents during the 4th Annual Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) SLAM‑DUNC Symposium at the UNC Friday Center.

Spotlight on UNC and Duke Research Excellence

Throughout the afternoon, attendees heard from UNC and Duke investigators during the Research Spotlight and Accelerated Research Talks, covering topics such as:

Environmental risk factors driving neurodegeneration
24‑hour movement behaviors and cognitive function
MRI‑based prediction of early cognitive decline in asymptomatic individuals

These sessions emphasized the strength of collaborative research across institutions and disciplines.

Two well‑attended poster sessions provided opportunities for trainees, early‑stage investigators, and research staff to engage directly with peers and senior scientists, reinforcing SLAM‑DUNC’s role as a key training and mentorship platform within the ADRC community

Attendees stand and talk in small groups during a research poster session at the 4th Annual Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) SLAM‑DUNC Symposium. Several freestanding poster boards are arranged in the background, each displaying research posters with text, charts, and images. Some attendees wear backpacks and hold cups while viewing posters or conversing near the displays. The setting is a large indoor atrium with high ceilings, stone and wood wall panels, and natural light, creating an open conference environment typical of an academic research symposium.

Several attendees stand around a freestanding research poster during a poster session at the 4th Annual Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) SLAM‑DUNC Symposium. One presenter stands beside the poster board and gestures toward a section of the poster that contains charts, graphs, and text, while others face the display and listen. Additional poster boards are visible nearby, each labeled and mounted on wheeled stands. Some attendees wear backpacks and carry notebooks or cups. The setting is a large indoor atrium with wood‑paneled walls, neutral carpeting, and bright overhead lighting, creating an open and collaborative academic conference environment.

Advancing Clinical Insight and ADRC Resources

The symposium concluded with Clinical Insights and ADRC Data Reviews, led by UNC and Duke ADRC Clinical Core leaders, followed by a retrospective review of Cycle 1 activities across the ADRC’s Outreach, Data Management, Neuropathology, and Biomarker Cores. Poster awards and closing remarks capped off a day focused on shared learning and forward momentum in Alzheimer’s research.

Looking Ahead

Now in its fourth year, SLAM‑DUNC reflects the Duke/UNC ADRC’s ongoing commitment to collaboration, education, and innovation in Alzheimer’s disease research. Events like SLAM‑DUNC play a vital role in strengthening the research pipeline and translating discoveries into improved care for patients and families affected by dementia across North Carolina and beyond

2026 SLAM‑DUNC Symposium Showcases Collaborative Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease Research