Could a cure for Alzheimer's be invented in the Triangle? Absolutely.

Alzheimer's Disease as well as other neurodegenerative diseases are becoming more common as the population ages, but experts say clinical research toward a cure is not on pace to meet the expected increase in cases. To address the issue, a local partnership is working to increase the success of new clinical trials.

Worldwide Clinical Trials, headquartered near RDU, is full service, mid-sized contract research organization, and they are not the only one in RTP.

Peter Benton, chief operating officer for  Worldwide Clinical Trials, wants more solid results from clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases. "Almost every clinical research organization is either headquartered or has a significant presence down here," said Benton. "But there is still a lot to be figured out."

According to Benton, 140 compounds were evaluated in over 400 trials over a 12-year period for Alzheimer's Disease alone. Meanwhile , new cases are expected to rise over the next 12 years, and so will the costs of care.

"The top nine neurological diseases including Alzheimer's will cost $800 billion on an annualized basis," said Benton.

Worldwide Clinical Trials manages pharmaceutical trials and collects data from doctors' offices in 63 countries. It is now partnering with Datavant, a company which organizes health data and improves data sharing between different owners.

That, Benton says, can lead to more progress for better treatments and, eventually, cures. "There is no doubt in my mind our world's best scientists are going to solve this problem," said Benton. "It's a matter of time and effort, and it's a matter of bringing all these approaches together."

Dr. Mask said there is a good chance that a cure for diseases like Alzheimer's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's could come from the Triangle.

"The reason why so many of these clinical research companies are here is, first, because of great research universities like Duke, UNC and N.C. State, which form what we call the Triangle," said Dr. Mask. "They provide a rich talent pool of students, scientists and doctors, and this area is also a great place for recruiting patients into trials for experimental drugs and other therapies. The same companies work with doctors and their patients all around the world."

Dr. Mask added that, while early diagnosis is important, doctors also want more effective ways to slow down or stop progression of the disease.

Benton said researchers will not lose sight of the importance of working closely with the caregivers of these patients.

"They are really the angels' in all of this and can help researchers know what is happening with these patients on a daily basis," he said.