A gift from the Cane-Bridge Foundation will expand the depth and breadth of dementia research at Pitt

The University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) will expand clinical trial operations, patient recruitment and retention, investigator-initiated research, and participation in national and industry-sponsored trials, thanks to a generous gift from Gail and Roberto Cañizares through the Cane-Bridge Foundation.

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect more than 6 million Americans — a number projected to rise sharply as the population ages. Despite significant scientific progress, current treatment options remain limited.

“Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias represent some of the most urgent public health challenges of our time, affecting millions of individuals and families while placing a growing burden on health care systems worldwide,” said Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine. “The gift from Gail and Rob will allow us to participate in high-quality, innovative and inclusive clinical trials that could lead to breakthrough treatments.”

The Cañizares family became interested in ADRC more than 20 years ago after Rob’s father suffered from dementia and was diagnosed by ADRC Director Oscar L. Lopez, professor of neurology, psychiatry, and clinical and translational sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. In honor of the exceptional care given to his father, Gail and Rob have maintained a growing interest in this research, and since their philanthropy also includes scientific research, this recent gift to expand the capabilities of the ADRC is very timely.

“Rob and I have seen firsthand the advanced research and clinical care underway at the ADRC. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to play even a small part in sustaining and growing the Center’s fight against Alzheimer’s and dementia,” Gail Cañizares said. “Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease that tears at the very fabric of a family. We can only hope that in our lifetimes we can find a cure.”

The gift will establish the Cañizares Clinical Trials Program within the ADRC. The program will accelerate the discovery, testing and delivery of promising therapies by strengthening and expanding a dedicated clinical trials infrastructure.

“This multiyear philanthropic partnership will be transformative in improving care options, shaping the future of dementia treatment and advancing hope for patients and families facing these devastating conditions,” said Lopez, director of the ADRC. “Clinical trials bridge scientific discovery and effective patient care. Sustained philanthropic investment is essential to strengthen that bridge.”

The Cañizares Clinical Trials Program will serve as a central component of the ADRC’s mission to advance research, improve care and train the next generation of dementia investigators. Among the activities it will support are:

• Diagnostic and biomarker tests for eligibility screening
• Increased enrollment, retention and diversity of participants in therapeutic studies through transportation assistance and participant engagement resources
• Seed funding for innovative, high-risk/high-reward studies
• Pilot studies to generate data for National Institutes of Health and industry funding
• Support for early-career investigators and trainees
• Expanded access to novel and experimental therapies
• Generation of peer-reviewed publications and external funding opportunities

Rob Cañizares met Gail at Cornell University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in applied and engineering physics and an MBA. Gail’s Vanderbilt University degree in education with foreign language concentrations was a perfect preparation for living as expatriates for more than 18 years as his career at Trane and Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) had them working on four continents. They moved to Pittsburgh in 2003 and Rob retired in 2011 as president of MSA International.