Texas Consortium of Alzheimer's Disease Centers

Education Code, Chapter 154 (HB1504, 76R), passed during the76th legislative session, directed the Texas Council on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (Council) to establish a consortium of Alzheimer's disease centers in Texas. The consortium is now named the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC). The Council is authorized to receive and direct state appropriated funds in Article III for the purpose of supporting the activities of TARCC. TARCC is part of the state-funded Darrell K Royal Texas Alzheimer’s Initiative.

Initial membership was prescribed by statute to include:

• Baylor College of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• The University of North Texas Health Science Center
• The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

The Council has since added the following additional members:

• The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - 2008
• Texas A&M Health Science Center - 2014
• The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School - 2015
• The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston - 2018
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – 2018
• The University of Texas Health Science Center, Rio Grande Valley – 2019

The purpose of TARCC is to create a systematic approach to the provision of uniform clinical services and to the sharing of research data. Specifically, TARCC will:

• Offer clinical services to all patients of the TARCC's clinical centers, notwithstanding the independent status of each participant; 
• Establish a database for: 
  o   Making data available to each TARCC participant according to its specific activities; 
  o   Providing a resource index to facilitate research projects; and 
  o   Providing data on patient health outcomes to appropriate state agencies and to researchers in this state; and 
• With the aid of the Council and the National Alzheimer's Association or its affiliate, develop and distribute to patients, caregivers, and health care professionals educational materials and services and inform patients of any research projects and therapeutic trials open for their participation. 

As directed by H.B.1504, to advise the Council on TARCC activities, the Council shall establish a steering committee composed of one representative from each TARCC participant.

According to H.B.1504, the Council may receive state appropriated funds for the purpose of supporting the research activities of TARCC. The Council may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for TARCC.