A Chilean scientific project called the Red Memoria Viva Electronic Registry (REMEMVER), led by the Schools of Medicine and Engineering at the University of Chile, has been selected by the U.S. Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association, one of the most influential global organizations in dementia research, prevention, and treatment, will provide a $1 million grant to implement the project between 2025 and 2027.
The initiative is the first national Real World Data platform in Chile. It will integrate clinical, neuropsychological, laboratory, and neuroimaging information collected during routine practices at seven public health dementia centers across five Chilean cities.
The project is directed by Dr. Andrea Slachevsky, a neurologist and academic at the University of Chile’s School of Medicine. It also involves health professionals from various specialties, including neurology, psychiatry, and geriatrics, as well as informatics and biomedical engineering experts and scientists. Among them is Dr. Pamela Guevara, Assistant Director of AC3E, who serves as a co-investigator and Neuroimaging Leader. In this role, she is responsible for coordinating the harmonization and analysis of structural neuroimaging data.
“This initiative began in collaboration with Dr. Slachevsky’s team, and my role involves developing standardized protocols for collecting and storing neuroimaging data from the various centers. This will ensure the quality, comparability, and integration of the data with clinical and neuropsychological information. Our goal is to make the data accessible and aligned with international initiatives to contribute to the advancement of research and health equity in the region,” said Dr. Guevara.
The backing of institutions like the U.S. Alzheimer’s Association is a significant recognition of the work being done by these Chilean professionals and scientists. The project also includes a training and certification program for approximately 50 health professionals nationwide, which will directly impact the care of over 5,000 patients and their families over the next two years.
“One of our main challenges is for this platform to grow and be used throughout Chile, and even serve as a reference for other countries in Latin America,” the AC3E Assistant Director noted.
REMEMVER is based on a vision of public science oriented toward equity, aiming to make historically excluded populations—such as rural, migrant, and Indigenous communities—more visible. By doing so, the project ensures that the benefits of this knowledge reach all of the country’s diverse populations, solidifying Chile’s role as a regional leader in scientific initiatives related to dementia that connect science, technology, and public health to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
