Neurodegeneration

Andrea Bozoki, MD

Core Leader

UNC-Chapel Hill
Alzheimer’s Disease
Clinical Trials
Neurodegeneration

Miles Berger, MD, PhD

Associate Core Leader

Duke University
Alzheimer’s Disease
Bioinformatics
Clinical Trials
Cognition
Neurodegeneration
Neuroimaging
Neuroinflammation
Neuropharmacology
Research interests include: Delirium, Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders, APOE4 biology, Multi-omic studies

Leah Acker M.D, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology

Duke University
Cognition
Neurodegeneration
Neuropharmacology

Ben A. Bahr, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

UNC Pembroke
Alzheimer’s Disease
Cell Biology – Neurodegeneration
Neurodegeneration
Bahr’s team focuses on synaptic vulnerability that contributes to AD risk factors, to improve understanding of the synaptopathy initiated by seizure- and stroke-type excitotoxicity, TBI, and blast exposures – all suspected of elevating the risk of dementia later in life.

Luke Bartelt

Graduate Student

Duke University
Animal Models
Cell Biology – Neurodegeneration
Neurodegeneration
Interested in understanding molecular mechanisms of Neurodegeneration through genetic mouse models and single-cell genomic technologies. Working to identify cell-type specific gene regulatory pathways driving neurodegeneration for next-generation gene therapy approaches.

Sarah Cohen, Ph.D.

UNC-Chapel Hill
Neurodegeneration
Dr. Cohen uses state-of-the-art microscopy techniques to study organelle dynamics and lipid metabolism in the context of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Keywords: cell biology; organelles; lipids; Alzheimer’s disease; APOE

Ornit Chiba-Falek, Ph.D.

Duke University
Alzheimer’s Disease
Neurodegeneration
Our research attempts to better understand the genetic processes underpinning age-related neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease, related dementia, and Lewy body spectrum disorders.

Shahzad Khan, Ph.D.

UNC-Chapel Hill
Alzheimer’s Disease
Neurodegeneration
Clinical Interests: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, Synucleinopathies, Tauopathies Research Interests: Molecular basis of neurodegeneration; Aging; Signal Transduction

Elijah Lackey, M.D.

Duke University
Biomarkers
Neurodegeneration
Neuroinflammation
Investigating the neurodegenerative aspect of progressive multiple sclerosis. Identifying biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Rick Meeker, Ph.D.

UNC-Chapel Hill
Neurodegeneration
Neuropharmacology
My lab has a translational research focus exploring the damaging effects of inflammation and calcium dysregulation on early HIV and Alzheimer’s disease progression. Modification of neurotrophin receptor signaling by small molecules is emphasized for therapeutic intervention. A clinical trial has been proposed to prevent cognitive decline in people with HIV. Key words: calcium imaging; neuroinflammation; neurodegeneration; HIV; Alzheimer’s disease; neurotrophins; multielectrode arrays

Bernadette O’Donovan, Ph.D., MSc

Duke University
Alzheimer’s Disease
Neurodegeneration
Member of Chiba-Falek’s lab – electrophysiology, microscopy, behavioral techniques, genetic and pharmacological models, and data analysis

Srinivas Sriranula, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

East Carolina University
Neurodegeneration
Neuropharmacology
The overarching goal of my research is to understand the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the immune system in regulation of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Currently we are focused on using SARS-CoV-2 infection in a mouse model to investigate the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on inflammation, cognition, and neuropsychiatric symptoms and the possibility of increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and/or Alzheimer’s disease.

Keats Shwab

Duke University
Alzheimer’s Disease
Neurodegeneration
Member of the Chiba-Falek Lab – Our research attempts to better understand the genetic processes underpinning age-related neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease, related dementia, and Lewy body spectrum disorders.

Michael Vitek, Ph.D.

Duke University
Neurodegeneration
Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s, Transgenic, Animal Models, Amyloid, Apolipoprotein-E, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry

Neuroimaging

Miles Berger, MD, PhD

Associate Core Leader

Duke University
Alzheimer’s Disease
Bioinformatics
Clinical Trials
Cognition
Neurodegeneration
Neuroimaging
Neuroinflammation
Neuropharmacology
Research interests include: Delirium, Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders, APOE4 biology, Multi-omic studies

Alexandra Badea Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Duke University
Alzheimer’s Disease
Biomarkers
Neuroimaging
Current Research interests: Alzheimer’s Disease, Brain Imaging, MRI, Connectivity, Multivariate Biomarkers, Image Analysis, Neurological Conditions.

James Pham Ho, M.D.

UNC-Chapel Hill
Cell Biology – Cellular Aging
Cell Biology – Immunology
Cell Biology – Neurodegeneration
Neuroimaging
Stroke, Intracranial Aneurysms, AVMs, Cerebrovascular Disease

Jenna Merenstein, Ph.D.

Duke University
Biomarkers
Cognition
Neuroimaging
Research summary: My research uses multiple MRI modalities (diffusion, fMRI) to assess the effect of brain aging on various cognitive abilities (memory, learning, attention) in adults across the lifespan. An overarching goal of my work is to differentiate the neural signatures of healthy brain aging from Alzheimer’s disease.

Mark Tommerdahl, Ph.D., M.S.

UNC-Chapel Hill
Neuroimaging
Somatosensory Cortical Dynamics, and Neurocomputation in Living Neural Networks

Neuroinflammation

Miles Berger, MD, PhD

Associate Core Leader

Duke University
Alzheimer’s Disease
Bioinformatics
Clinical Trials
Cognition
Neurodegeneration
Neuroimaging
Neuroinflammation
Neuropharmacology
Research interests include: Delirium, Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders, APOE4 biology, Multi-omic studies

Elijah Lackey, M.D.

Duke University
Biomarkers
Neurodegeneration
Neuroinflammation
Investigating the neurodegenerative aspect of progressive multiple sclerosis. Identifying biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Neuropharmacology

Miles Berger, MD, PhD

Associate Core Leader

Duke University
Alzheimer’s Disease
Bioinformatics
Clinical Trials
Cognition
Neurodegeneration
Neuroimaging
Neuroinflammation
Neuropharmacology
Research interests include: Delirium, Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders, APOE4 biology, Multi-omic studies

Leah Acker M.D, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology

Duke University
Cognition
Neurodegeneration
Neuropharmacology

Rick Meeker, Ph.D.

UNC-Chapel Hill
Neurodegeneration
Neuropharmacology
My lab has a translational research focus exploring the damaging effects of inflammation and calcium dysregulation on early HIV and Alzheimer’s disease progression. Modification of neurotrophin receptor signaling by small molecules is emphasized for therapeutic intervention. A clinical trial has been proposed to prevent cognitive decline in people with HIV. Key words: calcium imaging; neuroinflammation; neurodegeneration; HIV; Alzheimer’s disease; neurotrophins; multielectrode arrays

Srinivas Sriranula, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

East Carolina University
Neurodegeneration
Neuropharmacology
The overarching goal of my research is to understand the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the immune system in regulation of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Currently we are focused on using SARS-CoV-2 infection in a mouse model to investigate the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on inflammation, cognition, and neuropsychiatric symptoms and the possibility of increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and/or Alzheimer’s disease.