Dr. Francisco Lopera Alzheimer's Fellowship
About
Dr. Francisco Lopera was a groundbreaking neurologist who undertook pioneering work in early onset Alzheimer’s disease in his native Colombia and around the globe. Throughout his career, he made immense contributions to understanding the genetic factors that drive Alzheimer’s disease. From pioneering disease prevention trials to discovering mutations that appear to be able to forestall cognitive decline, Dr. Lopera remained at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research until he passed away in September of this year.
But more than being a researcher, Dr. Francisco Lopera was someone who served the people. He led with compassion and empathy. Dr. Lopera focused on education and empowerment of those he worked with. He was dedicated to innovating and improving the lives of people around him and did that by truly taking care of the patients he served. He also accomplished this by bringing in global partnerships with other researchers and medical professionals and by mentoring the next generation of neuroscience leaders.
For over 30 years Dr. Kosik worked closely with Dr. Francisco Lopera through genetics focused research on the largest family in the world with early onset familial Alzheimer’s. This decades long friendship and collaboration has led to genomic analysis of many rare mutations leading to neurodegeneration in Colombia with the goal of finding treatments and eventually a cure for this debilitating disease.
In an effort to continue the science and search for discoveries, NRI is pleased to launch a the Dr. Francisco Lopera Alzheimer's Fellowship Endowment Fund to support a PhD student from the Colombian research lab to study and contribute to Alzheimer’s research at UC Santa Barbara in Dr. Kosik’s lab.
Read Dr. Lopera's Obituary by Dr. Kosik here.
Give to the Fund
The Dr. Francisco Lopera Fund shall support a qualified neuroscience doctoral student or post-doctoral fellow from the Colombian lab pursuing Alzheimer’s research focused on continuing the genetics research collaboration initiated by Dr. Francisco Lopera and Dr. Kenneth Kosik. The Fund will be established through gifts from multiple donors. Donations are accepted in the form of a cash gift, stock exchange, cryptocurrency donation, or on the Dr. Francisco Lopera Alzheimer's Fellowship Giving Page.
Apply for the Fellowship
The Dr. Francisco Lopera Fellowship can be used as a recruitment tool to help attract top students from the Colombian lab and/or collaborative research between the Kosik Group and Lopera Group in genetics and Alzheimer’s or other research collaboratives between UCSB and Columbia focused on Alzheimer’s research to come to UC Santa Barbara to pursue their PhD or post-doctoral studies. Fellowships will be considered each year for qualified students and, if identified, awarded to outstanding neuroscience doctoral or post-doctoral fellows from the Colombia lab or Lopera Group or other research collaboratives between UCSB and Colombia focused on Alzheimer’s. Awards will be made starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
Ways To Give
In memory of Dr. Francisco Lopera, support genetics research in Alzheimer's disease in collaboration with Colombian graduate students or postdocs and UCSB.
Contact
Kelly Adams
Managing Director of Development
UC Santa Barbara
