Ryan Corces, PhD, an investigator at Gladstone Institutes, was named a 2026 winner of the Pershing Square Foundation's MIND Prize, according to an April 7 announcement. The award recognizes scientists advancing the understanding of the brain and cognition.
The MIND Prize is given annually to eight researchers and provides each with $750,000 over three years to support work on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. These conditions affect millions of people worldwide.
Neri Oxman, PhD, trustee of the Pershing Square Foundation, said in announcing this year's winners: "Thanks to advanced technologies and human creativity, Alzheimer's disease and her siblings are finally being considered remediable disorders of the human condition. This year's cohort reflects the promise of technological and biological research serendipity, tying molecular structures with behavioral patterns and genetic predispositions with the power of AI (artificial intelligence)."
Corces joined Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease in 2000. His current project will use artificial intelligence and CRISPR technology to identify new genetic variants that may contribute to Alzheimer's in families without known gene mutations linked to the disease. The aim is to find new drivers or therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s.
"If we could pinpoint exactly which genetic variants are driving Alzheimer's, we could better understand who's likely to develop the disease and what's causing it so we could intervene before irreversible neurodegeneration," Corces said. "The MIND Prize will help accelerate this research and bring clarity to more people who have a strong family history of Alzheimer's but no known genetic cause."
Alzheimer's is currently the most common degenerative brain disorder leading to dementia. As life expectancy increases, its prevalence continues to rise; nearly 13 million Americans are expected to be living with Alzheimer’s by 2050. The impact on patients’ families as well as socioeconomic costs are significant.
Lennart Mucke, MD, director at Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease said: "Alzheimer's is notoriously complex, requiring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to uncover its hidden drivers. By leveraging artificial intelligence and CRISPR, Ryan's important research has the potential to transform our understanding of this incredibly challenging condition."
