Must reads and watch

• A June 24, 2014 Washington Post letter-to-the-editor by Stephanie Monroe underscored the importance of African American participation in Alzheimer's clinical trials. According to Monroe, "The African American Network Against Alzheimer’s is spearheading a nationwide effort to increase enrollment in clinical trials by meeting people where they are — in churches, in community centers and through leading organizations — and encouraging participation and providing information about how to enroll." Stephanie Monroe is director of the African American Network Against Alzheimer’s.
• A June 24, 2014 Nature article reported that "Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a state budget that allocates US$2 million to establish the California Blueprint for Research to Advance Innovations in Neuroscience (Cal-BRAIN) project." According to the article, "Cal-BRAIN is the first state-wide programme to piggyback on the national Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative announced by US President Barack Obama in April 2013…Cal-BRAIN sets itself apart from the national effort by explicitly seeking industry involvement. The proposal emphasizes the potential economic benefits of neuroscience research and calls for the formation of a programme to facilitate the translation of any discoveries into commercial applications."
• A June 24, 2014 CBS Boston article and broadcast segment highlighted BU and Brigham And Women’s participation in a national A4 study. According to Dr. Robert Stern, of Boston University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center, “The A4 study is one of the most exciting studies, if not the most exciting study, in the history of Alzheimer’s Disease."