Dr. Caggiano is the chief medical officer and head of R&D at Cognition Therapeutics. He has broad experience in the development of new medicines for neurological conditions. During his 17 years at Acorda Therapeutics, the last four as senior vice president of research and development, Dr. Caggiano oversaw preclinical and clinical development programs in neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke and spinal cord injury. In addition, he directed a large team responsible for all aspects of early development through a combination of internal research efforts and external research collaborations. He built relationships with thought leaders, developed clinical trial strategies and participated in licensing activities. Immediately prior to joining Cognition, Dr. Caggiano was chief medical officer and head of R&D for Neurotrauma Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to treat the effects of stroke and TBI. Earlier in his career, he served as acting president and chief medical officer of Constant Pharmaceuticals and Aeromics, Inc., clinical-stage companies respectively developing candidates for central nervous system disorders and cerebral edema following ischemic stroke. Dr. Caggiano earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in interdisciplinary studies, focusing on biology, chemistry and psychology. He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Chicago and his medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine.

Dr. Jacobo Mintzer is a psychiatrist with special qualifications in geriatric psychiatry. He has dedicated his career to finding new treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease with a focus on the diagnosis and treatment of the neuropsychiatric symptoms of the disease. Dr. Mintzer is a Professor of Health Sciences, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Pathology at the Medical University of South Carolina and is the Chief Research and Innovation Officer at Roper St. Francis Healthcare System in Charleston, SC. Dr. Mintzer is the Principle Investigator for the ADMET program: a National Institute on Aging (NIA) supported program that has worked to define and treat apathy in Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Mintzer is former President of the International Psychogeriatric Association, past Treasurer of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, a Board Member of the AARP Global Counsil on Brain Health, a Board Member of the South Carolina Alzheimer’s Association, and has a faculty appointment at Exeter University in the United Kingdom. For ACTC, Dr. Mintzer serves on its steering committee as well as others. Dr. Mintzer is also the contact Principle Investigator for the Life’s end Benefits of CannaBidol and TetrahYdrocannabinol (LiBBY) Trial supported by the NIA. The project aims to test the efficacy and safety of a combination of THC and CBD cannabinoids for the treatment of hospice-eligible Alzheimer’s patients suffering from agitation.

Brigid is an Adult Nurse Practitioner who has dedicated her career to dementia care and research. She graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1989 and went on to receive a Masters of Science in Nursing under a full scholarship from the Department of Veterans Affairs, from The Catholic University of America in 1996. Brigid worked for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs at the VA Medical Center in Washington DC from 1996-2001. While at the VA, her work focused on home care, primary care, and case management for elderly patients. Brigid joined the Georgetown University Memory Disorders Program in 2001 and has served as a Georgetown faculty member since 2006. That same year, she was appointed Clinical Coordinator of the Memory Disorders Program. During her tenure, she has made significant contributions to advance the program so that it has now become the largest dementia research and care facility in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Brigid specializes in evaluating and treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. She has served as site Principal Investigator and Sub Investigator on numerous clinical trials and studies aimed at the discovery of new treatments and a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Throughout her career, Brigid has maintained a special interest in the treatment and management of behavioral symptoms commonly experienced by patients with dementia. She is honored to serve as Co PI for the LiBBY trial.

Keith N. Fargo, Ph.D., is director of Scientific Programs & Outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association. He leads research programs and initiatives to accelerate the Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. A key member of the Scientific Engagement team, Dr. Fargo works with all 75 Association chapters, media and donors to grow understanding of the Association’s role in accelerating Alzheimer’s research and share scientific updates. He is responsible for overseeing the data reported in the Association’s annual Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, the definitive compilation of national statistics and information conveying the impact of Alzheimer’s and other dementias on individuals, families, government and the nation’s health care system. Dr. Fargo directs the Association’s efforts to build participation in Alzheimer’s disease research studies as a critical component of advancement in the field. He manages the Association’s role in recruiting participants for the Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS), the world’s largest study of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and how it compares to the more common late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Fargo also ensures the quality, responsiveness and promotion of Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch^®, a free clinical studies matching service that connects individuals with Alzheimer’s, caregivers and healthy volunteers to hundreds of current studies. As an Association spokesperson, Dr. Fargo addresses emerging Alzheimer’s disease research and has been quoted in a variety of outlets, including ABCNews.go.com, CNNnews.com, TIME magazine and Wired magazine. Dr. Fargo received his Ph.D. from Indiana University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. Before joining the Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. Fargo held positions as a research scientist at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Rehabilitation Research & Development Program and an assistant research professor at the Loyola University Chicago Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Therapeutics.