Projects

Research in the Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease and Endophenotypes Lab focuses on seven main projects designed to identify ways to influence the progression of complex neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

  • Comparative Gene Expression Studies in AD and Other Conditions. The lab has several ongoing projects aimed at harnessing information on gene expression levels and disease risk. The goal is to identify and characterize novel genes, transcripts and genetic risk variants for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
  • Gene Expression Studies in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. The long-term goal of this project is to uncover the pathophysiology of progressive supranuclear palsy and the molecular substrates of its subtypes. The hope is that this work will ultimately lead to drug discoveries.
  • Epigenetic Studies in AD and Other Conditions. Dr. Ertekin-Taner and her colleagues are exploring the role gene expression changes in the brain in Alzheimer's disease. The team is working to identify genes with altered methylation patterns and evaluate gene promoter regions to identify genes under strong epigenetic control that may be relevant to disease.
  • Complex Genetic Interactions in AD. In this study, the team is leveraging study data to identify pairs of single nucleotide polymorphisms that associate with brain gene expression measures. The goal is to identify additional genetic factors that might influence Alzheimer's disease risk through alterations in gene expression.
  • Genetics of AD in Diverse Populations. Dr. Ertekin-Taner's lab has projects aimed at uncovering the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in non-Caucasian populations.
  • Genetics of Posterior Cortical Atrophy. This study investigated the association of genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease with risk of posterior cortical atrophy (PCA). This work has been published, and the lab is analyzing an additional 11 novel Alzheimer's disease risk loci via meta-analysis.
  • Genetic Studies of Cognition and AD Risk. The lab assessed the association of the top nine GWAS variants and the apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE ε4) allele with memory, as well as progression to mild cognitive impairment and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The lab is now investigating the effect on memory decline of additional Alzheimer's disease risk loci, as well as other multiomics factors.