ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION INTERDISCIPLINARY SUMMER RESEARCH INSTITUTE (AA-ISRI) - Insights From Program Alumni - Part 9 - S2 443

Sep 29, 2026

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Annual since 2021, the Alzheimer’s Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute (AA-ISRI) offers a no-cost, immersive professional development program for dementia researchers. The week-long institute provides training in innovations in dementia science, structured peer-group support, networking, and mentorship focused on grant writing and career coaching. Sessions are organized across psychosocial and public health research tracks, led by established mentors. Program alumni share experiences aligned with interdisciplinary training, peer/mentorship networking, and interactions with field leaders and funding representatives, including grant feedback and elevator-pitch development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

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Program overview and training

Research tracks and peer-group structure

Mentorship, grant writing, and career coaching

Alumni themes and program outcomes

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 443 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1507 ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION INTERDISCIPLINARY SUMMER RESEARCH INSTITUTE (AA-ISRI): INSIGHTS FROM PROGRAM ALUMNI Andrew Pickett1, Quinton Cotton2, Emily Mroz3, Kalisha Bonds Johnson3, and Manka Nkimbeng4, 1. Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, United States, 2. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 3. Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 4. University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Held annually since 2021, the Alzheimer’s Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute (AA-ISRI) providesan 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.

FAQs

AA-ISRI is open to which kinds of participants and backgrounds?

AA-ISRI is interdisciplinary by design, accepting participants from a variety of educational backgrounds (e.g., MD, PhD) and experiences such as public health, nursing, social work, and medicine.

How are sessions and daily support organized during the institute?

The institute runs across two overarching research tracks—psychosocial and public health—and also by participant interests. Daily peer group meetings of 4–6 people are led by established mentors.

What mentorship and skill-building activities are included?

Participants receive feedback on an in-progress grant proposal, practice developing an effective elevator pitch for their research, and have one-on-one mentorship meetings with leading experts.

Sep 29, 2026

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