Alzheimer's Association Part the Cloud grants $5 million to develop innovative gene targeting treatments

Part the Cloud, through the Alzheimer's Association, announces the awarding of grants totaling $5 million to four studies to develop potential therapies for Alzheimer's disease. These grants focus on gene targeting therapies: therapies that change the expression of genes.

Started by philanthropist Michaela “Mikey” Hoag and the Alzheimer's Association, Part the Cloud is known for its rigorous and robust review process, encouraging other investors to follow on from its initial funding to expand these innovative trials. To date, Part the Cloud–funded studies have garnered more than $1.6 billion in follow-on funding support.

Part the Cloud provides strategic funding to advance promising investigational Alzheimer's therapies into clinical trials. The treatment targets are varied, which is important given the growing consensus that effective treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's is likely to be a personalized combination of multiple interventions targeting different aspects of the disease.

The new awardees are the first recipients of the Part the Cloud Translational Gene Targeting Challenge. More than 100 genes are associated with risk for or resistance to the development of Alzheimer's and other dementias. As a result, there is great potential for personalized gene editing and gene-related therapies.

“With these substantial and targeted awards, research teams will significantly expand the investigation of how genetics can inform personalized treatments for Alzheimer's and other dementias that address each individual's unique biological circumstances,” said Maria C. Carrillo, PhD, Alzheimer's Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead.

“Our Part the Cloud initiative continues its global leadership in seeding a wide-ranging treatment pipeline that drives the field forward toward effective treatments for everyone from all communities and at all stages of the disease. Now more than ever, it is crucial to fund visionary, forward-looking grants like these,” Carrillo said.

Started in 2012, Part the Cloud is specifically designed to accelerate the translation of findings from the laboratory, through trials, into possible therapies—filling the gap in Alzheimer's drug development by providing essential support for early-phase clinical trials.

“Alzheimer's and other diseases that cause dementia affect 50 million people worldwide, including over 7 million in the U.S. alone. It affected my family directly, unexpectedly, and brutally, and it might impact yours, too. We must identify and test treatments that can slow, prevent, or reverse the brain cell damage inflicted by these diseases,” said Hoag.

“I believe that therapies tailored to the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias have very high potential to supercharge the field toward major breakthroughs,” Hoag added. “Part the Cloud has raised nearly $90 million to fund clinical trials with the highest probability of slowing, stopping or ultimately curing Alzheimer's disease. These grants are truly making a difference as we work to get one step closer to our vision of a world without Alzheimer's disease.”

To learn more about Part the Cloud, including current and future funding opportunities, visit alz.org/partthecloud.

The Alzheimer's Association has launched a new mobile app aimed at helping newly diagnosed, early-stage individuals, and their care partners navigate their journey with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The free “My ALZ Journey” app provides personalized guidance, education, planning tools, interactive activities, and local community resources.

“A dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming and isolating,” said Elizabeth Edgerly, senior director, Community Programs and Services, Alzheimer's Association. “My ALZ Journey offers trusted, easy-to-access guidance that helps individuals and families in the early stages of the disease feel supported and confident about what comes next. By delivering the right information at the right time, we hope the app will foster connection, combat stigma, and empower individuals and their care partners to take action with confidence.”

Currently, there are more than 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease. A 2024 Alzheimer's Association survey found that 66% of dementia caregivers report difficulty finding resources and support following a dementia diagnosis.

People living with dementia, including current and former members of the Alzheimer's Association National Early Stage Advisory Group (ESAG), were instrumental in the app's development—identifying the need for it, helping shape and test its content, and eventually naming it.

“Technology can be challenging for someone living with dementia, but I find the My ALZ Journey app easy to use,” said Brent Beasley, a current ESAG member who was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease in 2023. “Having people living with dementia provide input and feedback into the app's development helps make it practical and responsive to the real-life needs of diagnosed individuals and their care partners.”

Ideal for those who already enjoy using apps in their daily lives, My ALZ Journey features a simple, intuitive design that guides users through a personalized experience. The Home screen offers a curated path with step-by-step guidance and resources that evolve over time to reflect the user's journey. The app's Library provides easy access to topic-based educational content from alz.org, answering common questions about Alzheimer's, caregiving, and planning for the future. Users can connect directly to their local Alzheimer's Association chapter through the Community section, which highlights nearby support groups, events, and programs. The Activity Center offers interactive tools, planning resources, and activities to help users stay engaged and supported.

“In the wake of an Alzheimer's diagnosis, individuals and families have so many questions,” Edgerly said. “Our app offers a simple starting point for getting information and connecting users with important services and resources, specifically for the early stages of the disease. We want families affected by Alzheimer's and other dementia to know they are not alone.”

My ALZ Journey is available now for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For more information, visit alz.org/MyALZJourney.