Congas: "caribbean omics 'n' genomics for alzheimer study" - genetic studies in the context of alzheimer disease (ad) are significantly biased by information coming from the same homogeneous…

The National Institute on Aging awarded a cooperative agreement valued at $6.273 million to The Washington University on March 1, 2026, under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) to conduct the Caribbean Omics 'N' Genomics for Alzheimer Study (CONGAS). The award funds collection and analysis of genetic and multi-omic data from 5,000 elderly individuals (aged 65 and older) across Caribbean countries and Spain to address the underrepresentation of non-European ancestry populations in Alzheimer's disease genetic research. Washington University will generate blood biomarkers, array data, whole genome sequence data, and proteomics datasets. Participants will be classified according to ATN criteria and subjected to genome and proteome association analyses accounting for ancestry and admixture components, with the goal of identifying causal genes, druggable targets, and improved prediction models for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The period of performance runs through February 28, 2031, with place of performance in St. Louis, Missouri.

The award incorporates sub-recipient pass-through to the University of California, Berkeley (awarded June 5, 2026) and the University of Pennsylvania under two separate sub-awards (both awarded May 12, 2026). UC Berkeley will conduct genetic analyses of Alzheimer's disease risk factors in the diverse CONGAS cohort. The University of Pennsylvania's Genome Center for Alzheimer's Disease serves as the analysis coordinating center, preparing analysis-ready phenotype and genotype files, joining whole genome sequence data with existing Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project files, and performing meta-analysis across ADSP workgroups. The University of Pennsylvania's Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease Data Storage Site will manage community data release and qualified access sharing of CONGAS results through the National Institute on Aging designated repository.

Congas: "caribbean omics 'n' genomics for alzheimer study" - genetic studies in the context of alzheimer disease (ad) are significantly biased by information coming from the same homogeneous population: non-hispanics whites (NHW). The adsp follow-up study (FUS) long term goals include to fully reveal the genetic architecture of ad in multiple ethnic groups and examine the ad genome in the context of US-representative population. As of 2016, approximately 13 million people of the total U.S. Population, have caribbean ancestry. The caribbean omics & genomics alzheimer study (congas) will contribute to adsp-FUS mission with 5,000 samples from elderly individuals (>65 YO) across the caribbean countries and spain. We will generate blood biomarkers, array data, whole genome sequence, and proteomics for the congas dataset. Participants will be classified according to ATN criteria that will be used as endpoint phenotype in genome, and proteome association analyses, while taking into account admixture and ancestry components. Ultimately, we will identify causal genes and druggable targets and create better prediction models, by using genetics and multi-omic data as tools.