DCF Grants $13.1 Million to the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research at the University of Delaware

Transformational gift is one of the largest in Alzheimer’s research in the state’s history

The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF), one of the largest charitable organizations in the state and a top 100 community foundation nationwide, today announced a five-year $13.1 million dollar planned investment in the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research (DECCAR) at the University of Delaware (UD) through its Paul H. Boerger Fund.

“No one has to look very far afield to witness and understand the tragedy of Alzheimer’s, and the research supported by this grant will help UD researchers come ever-closer to uncovering life-improving and life-saving solutions,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “The grant was provided through the generosity of late Paul H. Boerger, who made a substantial legacy gift to the fund he had established at the DCF in his lifetime, and his foresight will help so many.”

The Paul H. Boerger Fund was created in 2014 by Paul Boerger and it received a generous estate gift following his death in 2017. Boerger’s legacy wish was that the fund support research to prevent and/or cure Alzheimer’s disease. The DCF first awarded a $575,000 grant from its Paul H. Boerger Fund to DECCAR in 2023 to support the Delaware Longitudinal Study for Alzheimer’s Prevention (DeLSAP), an observational study that explores how health, lifestyle and biology influences dementia risk over time and helps identify early signs of cognitive impairment.

Spurred by the success of the study, DCF leadership invited DECCAR to submit a new proposal — leading to one of the largest investments in Delaware’s history for Alzheimer’s research.

“This transformational gift will significantly expand Alzheimer’s research throughout the state,” said Director of DECCAR and Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Christopher Martens. “It will also help grow the number of researchers in Delaware focused on Alzheimer’s disease, promoting an interdisciplinary approach.”

Bringing together researchers from multiple fields to collaborate on a critical challenge like Alzheimer’s disease is a key strength of the University of Delaware, said Interim President Laura Carlson.

“Every one of us has a family member or friend who has been deeply affected by Alzheimer’s. I’m proud that UD is working better to understand this terrible disease and partnering with others throughout the state to work on its prevention, diagnosis and treatment,” Carlson said. “We are grateful to the Delaware Community Foundation for their support which allows us to escalate our research and expand our community outreach.”

The $13.1 million investment will help DeLSAP expand from 100 to 500 participants over the next five years and fund the development of a blood test that uses DeLSAP samples to identify biomarkers for better predicting Alzheimer’s progression. The grant will also support the purchase of a $3.2 million state-of-the-art MRI machine for UD’s STAR Campus, improving statewide access to a critical diagnostic tool and expanding research infrastructure.

More information about projects supported by the DCF through this grant is available on UDaily, UD's news site.

About the Delaware Community Foundation

The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) stands at the intersection of generosity and community transformation. We manage charitable funds, advise donors and grant to nonprofits to cultivate the future of philanthropy in Delaware. Our mission is to expand opportunity for all by helping individuals, families, businesses and organizations focus their generosity where it can create the greatest impact statewide. Through convening, connecting, providing leadership on important issues and investing in community needs, we empower Delawareans to build a stronger, more vibrant future. Learn more at delcf.org or call 302.571.8004.

About the University of Delaware

One of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States, the University of Delaware has a rich history of contributing scientific insights and new ideas, fostering enlightenment, transforming lives and changing the world. Today, under the leadership of Interim President Laura Carlson, the University is committed to building on this legacy to meet the complex challenges facing the globe. The University’s foremost priority remains to ensure the success of every student, and this commitment dates back to our roots as a small private academy founded in 1743. From that early school, which educated three signers of the Declaration of Independence, UD has grown into a research-intensive, technologically advanced institution that is at the forefront of innovation in the classroom, in the laboratory and in the community.

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“This transformational gift will significantly expand Alzheimer’s research throughout the state,” said Director of DECCAR and Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Christopher Martens.