What is CIMA-Q?

People aged 65 and older make up approximately 21% (2024) of Quebec’s population, and among them, Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent neurological condition. Given this major public health challenge, it is essential to coordinate research efforts to alleviate the disease’s impact on patients, their families, and society as a whole.

With this in mind, members of CIMA-Q have created an innovative research ecosystem, providing Quebec researchers with advanced methodological tools, collaborative platforms, and cutting-edge expertise. The goal is to stimulate innovation, foster synergy, and strengthen the international recognition of Alzheimer’s disease research.

CIMA-Q objectives

1. Detect earlier, act more effectively.

  • Develop tests for early diagnosis of the disease.
  • Design a complete toolbox integrating biological, genetic, cognitive and neuroimaging markers.
  • Study the early molecular mechanisms causing the disease.

2. Understand risk and protective factors and improve prevention.

  • Explore risk and protective factors, as well as the impact of lifestyle habits on the progression of the disease.

3. Optimize clinical approaches

  • Implement advanced clinical protocols to refine diagnosis and optimize the use of biomarkers.

Multidisciplinary expertise at the service of research

CIMA-Q provides Quebec researchers with resources and integrated expertise to better understand Alzheimer’s disease. Its activities are structured around five groups of experts:

  • Neuroimaging – Development of cutting-edge tools to visualize brain alterations.
  • Characterized clinical cohort – Longitudinal monitoring of participants to better understand disease progression.
  • Cognitive and neuropsychiatric markers – Fine analysis of cognitive deficits and associated symptoms.
  • Therapeutic targets and biomarkers – Identification of new avenues for the development of treatments.
  • Risk and protective factors – Study of genetic, environmental and behavioral influences.

These groups work together with the objective of designing effective evaluation tools, harmonizing data collection and analysis and guaranteeing the quality of the research carried out.

A unique network to accelerate discoveries

With more than 130 researchers specializing in key fields, CIMA-Q constitutes a real engine of innovation. By bringing together this expertise, it strengthens the visibility and impact of Quebec research on an international scale. Thanks to this collective mobilization, CIMA-Q opens the way to major scientific advances, innovative prevention strategies and concrete clinical applications that will directly benefit the population.

Together, let’s push the frontiers of knowledge to better understand, diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease.