CART News Archives

Press Release 11:
MAYO JAX - Dr. Malcolm Leissering.

The Leissering lab studies substances (called proteases) that destroy amyloid beta-protein which is the chief component of the plaques that create Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Leissring previous work has shown that the severity of Alzheimer's Disease is strongly dependent on how active these protease substances are.

However, all of the various amyloid destroying substances (proteases) are not known. Dr. Leissring is using CART funds to investigate most of these substances and determine which ones are capable of destroying Alzheimer's amyloids. The results are expected to give new insight into the causes of Alzheimer's and perhaps help develop new treatment for the disease through drugs or other treatments.

Humans are the only animal that suffers the dementia of Alzheimer's disease. A molecule called PIB is currently used for imaging the Alzheimer's disease hallmark deposits of beta-amyloid protein in the brains of living subjects. Animal models - including our closest relatives, the non-human primates - have beta-amyloid deposits, but the deposits do not bind PIB, and the animals do not develop Alzheimer's disease. Our study seeks to use PIB to understand why only humans experience the brain damage that causes dementia.

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Press Release 10:
Cleveland Clinic and University of Alabama Birmingham awarded 2008 CART grants

For the first time in 2008, the CART Fund was able to make two grants in one year. From 56 outstanding applicants, our Scientific Review Committee chaired by Dr. John Trojanowski of the University of Pennsylvania, assisted by Dr. Allan Levey of Emory University and Dr. Karl Herrup of Rutgers University, recommended that our grants be made to Dr. Sanjay Pimplikar of the Cleveland Clinic ($250,000.00) and Dr. David Sweatt of UAB ($200,000.00).

Dr. Pimplikar's research will explore the possibility that an emyloid percusor protein, called AICD, is the real culprit in causing Alzheimer's disease. Up to now most scientists have focused on the A-beta part of the amyloid precursor but recent clinical trials targeting A-Beta have unfortunately failed. AICD has been shown to cause tau aggregation which is bad. Dr. Pimplikar states that his hopes are that in addition to confirming that AICD is the cause of AD, his research will screen for drugs that will prevent tau aggregation.

Most research to find the cause of Alxheimer's disease, unfortunately, has failed. Dr. Pimplikar has shown in his early research that a protein referred to as AICD may be the cause of Alzheimer's disease. This is an area that has been explored by few, if any other scientists. Dr. Pimplikar states that his hopes are that in addition to confirming that AICD is the cause of A.D. his research will screen for drugs that will prevent the effects of this protein. Recent developments indicate that Dr. Pimplikar's research has great promise. In expressing his appreciation to CART and the Rotarians who make it possible, Dr. Pimplikar stated "CART funding is supporting novel and cutting edge research".

Dr. Sweatt states that "CART funding will be critical for his laboratory to be able to aggressively pursue the development of a new drug that hopefully will lead to a new type of treatment for Alzheimer's disease. His lab has discovered that long term memory formation involves changes in chemical and three dimensional structure of DNA. This discovery has allowed he and his colleagues to develop a new line of drug treatments that improve memory formation in laboratory animals. With the CART grant, Dr. Sweatt will be able to genetically test these findings.

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Press Release 9:
Cart Fund presents 2007 grant to Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville

On May 2, 2007 at the annual meeting of the CART Board of Directors held in Columbia, SC, Dr. Todd Golde of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida was awarded the eighth CART Fund grant for research into Alzheimer's Disease.

Pictured left to right are PDG Jim Puryear - CART Vice President and CART Grants Chairman, Eric Puckett - CART Secretary, Karen Shore - CART President, PDG Bruce Baker - CART President Emeritus, Dr. Todd Golde - Mayo Clinic and Grant recipient, Roger Ackerman - CART Treasurer, and PDG Glenn Hood - CART Vice President

This makes the total CART grants $1,850,000. Rotarians and others have now donated over $2 million for Alzheimer's research.

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Press Release 8:
Seventh grant announcement - May 3, 2006

Cart Fund presents grant to University of Texas Medical Branch

On May 3, 2006 at the annual meeting of the CART Board of Directors held in Columbia, SC, Dr. Claudio Soto of the University of Texas Medical Branch was awarded the seventh CART Fund grant for research into Alzheimer's Disease.

Pictured left to right are CART Secretary PDG Dean Kanipe D-7670, Vice President Karen Shore D-7680, Dr. Soto, President Bruce Baker D-7750, Treasurer Roger Ackerman D-7770 and Vice President Jack Bass D-7770. This makes the total CART grants $1,600,000.

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Press Release 7:
CART Fund Day proclaimed
SC Governor proclaims 'Carroll Campbell CART Fund Day'

WHEREAS, it is estimated that over 4 million people across the country suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and medical scientists predict that, without a cure, one out of every ten living Americans will fall victim to this disease: and

WHEREAS, initiated in 1995, The Rotary Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust Fund (CART) utilizes donated change as an effective means to raise funds for research into the prevention, early detection, and cure of Alzheimer'; and

WHEREAS, over the past ten years, the CART fund has raised over $1,000,000 dollars and awarded $1,350,000 in grants for Alzheimer's research; and

WHEREAS, hosted by the Georgetown Rotary Club, the First Annual Shag Festival honors all those affected or have fallen victim to this disease, including Governor Carroll Campbell, and their families while providing funds for continuing research,

NOW, HEREFORE, I, Mark Sanford, Governor of the Great State of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2006 as

GOVERNOR CARROLL CAMPBELL CART FUND DAY

throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to recognize the valuable contributions of the Rotary Club Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust Fund to research into the prevention, early detection, and eventual cure of this devastating disease.

Mark Sanford
Governor of the state of South Carolina

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Press Release 6:
CART announces 2005 research grant -
Cart Fund presents grant to UCLA

In May of 2005, the sixth grant made by the CART Fund was presented to Dr. Gary Small and his research team from UCLA. They received a check for $250,000. UCLA was selected ahead of 70 other applicants from research centers in over 40 states. This makes the total CART grants $1,350,000.00. The UCL:A scientists are the first to develop technology that will provide a direct measure of plaque and tangle density in the living patient. The plaque and tangles are commonly found in all Alzheimer's patients. Using only human volunteers, their project will be the first ever to detail the use of this technology in people at risk for Alzheimer's. This research hopefully will result in a major breakthrough in early detection and even prevention of the disease. Above, Rotarians from District 6920 join CART grants chairman Jack Bass in presenting Dr. Small with UCLA's check.

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Press Release 5:
CART honored at symposium

On Friday, July 23 a delegation of six Rotarians from the Carolinas and Georgia plus four of their spouses attended a Symposium honoring The CART Fund in Philadelphia.

The event was scheduled to follow the closing day of an International Conference on Alzheimer's Research so that the scientists participating and/or attending could be present. "It was for me one of the most memorable events of my almost 38 years in Rotary," said CART Treasurer Roger Ackerman. It was planned by and CO-chaired by Dr. John Trojanowski and Dr. Sam Gandy with assistance of four of CART's grant recipients.

The Symposium included research reports from eight of our nation's top Alzheimer's scientists who all were generous in their praise of The CART Fund. Many of the comments explained how their research would not have been possible without CART funding.

A luncheon in honor of the CART representatives followed the presentations and then the group toured Dr. Gandy's extensive laboratory at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University of which he is the Director.

"I just wish all of you could have shared this special day with us. It would have made you even prouder than you already are to be a Rotarian. Your generous support of CART has truly made a difference," said Ackerman.

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Press Release 4:
CART announces 2004 research grant
University of Connecticut Health Center receives $250,000 award

May 4, 2004 -- At the annual meeting of the CART Board of Directors in Columbia, SC, the University of Connecticut Health Center was announced as the recipient of its fifth grant in the amount of $250,000.00 for research that will take place over the next two years.

Dr. Robert Reenan, principal Investigator of this research, was on hand to receive the award and check.

The University of Connecticut was the unanimous choice of the three scientists who reviewed all of the applications and reported their findings in a conference call with the CART Grants Committee chaired by Dr. Jack Bass of the Hilton Head Rotary Club. Initially their were 34 research centers who applied by submitting a synopsis of their proposal. The advisory group of scientists chaired by Dr. Sam Gandy selected 12 of the 34 institutions to receive invitations to apply and from these Connecticut was the clear choice. Dr. Gandy stated that the applications were outstanding.

This brings to $1.1 million total grants made by the CART Fund.

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Press Release 3:
CART Named SC Angel
Rotary program gives 99% of funds raised to research

November 19, 2003 -- South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond announced the 2003 Angels and Scrooges List at a news conference held at the State House Auditorium in Columbia.

The annual designation of the best and worst charities as Angels or Scrooges has become a South Carolina tradition, receiving national recognition from news organizations, such as "Fleecing of America" on NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.

Secretary Hammond stated, "As your new Secretary of State, I am happy to continue this nationally recognized South Carolina tradition One of my duties as your Secretary of State is to guard the dollars you give to charity, and I want you to know that I am very committed to protecting charitable solicitations in South Carolina.

"The Scrooge and Angel lists serve as educational tools for you, the public, and also as a reminder to check it out before you write the check. It is regrettable that stingy organizations seek to take advantage during this time of year, when people's hearts and minds turn to helping those who are less fortunate."

"That is why I feel it so important to remind our citizens to utilize available resources in order to make informed, educated decisions on how to donate their dollars." Secretary Hammond said the 2003 Angel List recipients were selected because "these organizations were found to be extremely effective at giving a high percentage of their total expenditures directly to programs for their designated cause, their compliance with the S.C. Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, and their high use of volunteers in their fundraising efforts."

The 2003 Angels List recipients, as announced in alphabetical order, with the percentage given directly to their cause are:

• The Rotary CART Fund, from Sumter 99%
• Cold War Submarine Memorial Foundation, out of Charleston 98%
• Gullah Festival of South Carolina, Inc., from Beaufort 98.6%
• My Sister's House, Inc., also from Charleston 86.4%
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, from Maryland 95.9%
• Newberry Opera House Foundation, from Newberry 93.3%
• Pickens County Sheriffs Office Foundation 99.7%
• Smile Train, Inc., from New York, New York 91.3%
• SOS Health Care, Inc., out of Myrtle Beach 87.8%
• South Carolina Children's Theatre, from Greenville 89.2%
• St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic, from Spartanburg 84.4%

"To all of our Angels, on behalf of the people of South Carolina, I want to say thank you. Your tireless efforts enrich the lives of those in your community, and inspire us to keep a generous and giving spirit year round," said Hammond. The annual Scrooge List is based on the charitable organization's failure to spend a decent percentage of their expenditures on actual programs, their high use of paid (professional) fundraisers, and their presence in our state.

The 2003 Scrooge List, as announced in alphabetical order, with the percentage of funds actually given to the causes they represent:

• A Child's Wish, of Sarasota, Florida 4.1%
• American Association of State Troopers, Inc., of Tallahassee, Florida 15%
• American Relief Association, of Phoenix, Arizona 2.1%
• Children's Wish Foundation International, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia 38.5%
• Committee for Missing Children, Inc., of Lawrenceville, Georgia 9.5%
• Disabled and Retired Police Officers Educational Fund, Inc., of Niceville, Florida 1.2%
• Humane Society of the U.S. Wildlife Land Trust, out of Washington DC 17.3%
• Shiloh International Ministries, of Laverne, California 8%
• South Carolina Police Officers Association, out of Conyers, Georgia 0.8%
• Vietnow National Headquarters out of Rockford, Illinois 4.7%

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Press Release 2:
CART reaches $1 million in receipts

July 14, 2003 -- CART Treasurer Roger Ackerman calls July 14 a "red letter day" for CART, as The CART Fund exceeded $ 1 million in receipts.

"In anticipation of this major accomplishment, the CART Board of Directors at their annual meeting informally pledged to raise the second million much faster than the first," said Ackerman.

The Board of Directors guarantees that 100 percent of CART monies goes to research. Board approved expenses are paid from interest income, operating much in the same manner as The Rotary Foundation.

"We have incurred expenses of only $6,395 since July 1999, which represents only 14 percent of the interest income we have received," said Ackerman. "The remainder of our interest income has also gone to research. Individual members of the Sumter (S.C.) Rotary Club provided approximately $5,000 in cash and in-kind services to cover start-up costs in the initial three years of operation."

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Press Release 1:
University of Pennsylvania receives fourth CART grant
Fourth award by Rotarians is for $250,000

April, 2003 -- Each week, Rotarians from clubs throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia empty their pockets of loose money in the hopes that their individual donations will, collectively, bring about a different kind of change. Recently, officials from Rotary districts in the three states awarded a research grant of $250,000 to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for their work on the prevention of oxidative stress damage - "brain rust" - present in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

With the award of this grant, Rotarians will have given over $850,000 since 1999 from their Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust (CART) fund for the research and cure of Alzheimer's and Alzheimer's-related diseases.

"Funding from sources like the Rotarians allow us to jump-start scientific research on the many targets that we think are the molecular pathways to curing Alzheimer's," said John Trojanowski, MD, Ph.D., director of Penn's Alzheimer's Disease Center. "It is remarkable that just a few citizens can band together to recognize a need and, with deliberation and foresight, deliver major awards on the level of a large foundation or government agency."

According to Trojanowski, Penn received the award primarily because of the work of Domenico Pratico, MD, assistant professor in Penn's Department of Pharmacology. His work on isoprostanes, fatty acids that are formed as the result of free radical damage, have opened up a new avenue of promising research in which drugs created to prevent oxidative stress may halt Alzheimer's.

"Funding is a real limiting factor, and the Rotarians are indeed taking a visionary approach in seeking out funding projects at the preliminary stages of research," said Trojanowski. "While I cannot say just how much it will cost to cure Alzheimer's, research in the last decade has identified many compelling and novel drug targets. And the faster we pursue each one through increased investment in drug discovery, the faster we will get to meaningful therapies." - Article abstracted with permission of Greg Lester; Science Writer at the Department of Public Affairs PENN Medicine

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