James Connor

James Connor is a Distinguished Professor at Penn State University, holding appointments in both the Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Pediatrics. He serves as Vice Chair for Research and leads the Penn State Neuroscience Institute and Penn State Cancer Institute initiatives. With over 383 research outputs and 30 grants, his work bridges neuroscience, iron metabolism, and oncology.

Research Interests: Dr. Connor's research focuses on

• Brain iron regulation and its role in neurodegeneration
• Iron metabolism in glioblastoma and other cancers
• Sex-based differences in neurological diseases
• Genetic variants affecting iron homeostasis (e.g., HFE gene)
• Therapeutic strategies for iron-deficiency disorders

Article Trends: Recent publications highlight iron's role in

• Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, mucolipidosis IV)
• Glioblastoma survival and metal content
• Sex-specific cancer metabolism
• Developmental brain disorders
• Epigenetic regulation of iron transport
• Clinical implications of anemia in oncology

Scientific Awards:

• 2022: Excellence in Career Mentoring Award

Grants: Major funded projects include studies on

• Sex-based glioma differences (National Cancer Institute)
• HFE gene variants and Alzheimer's susceptibility (National Institute on Aging)
• Mechanisms of brain iron uptake (NINDS)
• Iron deficiency therapies for mucolipidosis IV (NINDS)