Sarah E Elzinga

Dr. Sarah E. Elzinga is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Program, and BioMolecular Science Gateway at Michigan State University (MSU). She leads the Elzinga Lab, which investigates how metabolic dysregulation (obesity, prediabetes, diabetes) and neuroinflammation drive cognitive impairment and dementias during aging.

• Education: Master's in Animal Science (MSU), Ph.D. in Veterinary Science (University of Kentucky)

Research Focus: The lab explores three key projects: (1) cGAS/STING pathway activation in aging brains under metabolic stress, (2) neuron-glia inflammatory signaling, and (3) systemic communication between brain and peripheral organs in cognitive decline. Her work employs single-cell RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and in vitro co-culture systems.

Publication Trends: Her 15 most recent articles span 2019-2025, emphasizing neuroimmunology, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. Key publications include studies on cGAS/STING activation, microglial dysregulation, and metabolic-stress-induced neuroinflammation in journals like Frontiers in Immunology and iScience.

Collaborations: Partners include the Feldman Lab (University of Michigan), Hur Lab (University of North Dakota), and MSU's Department of Physiology. The lab receives funding from national grant programs.

Training: Current lab member Alyssa May applies swine immunology expertise to study cellular processes in cognitive dysfunction. Dr. Elzinga's own research journey began with equine nutrition studies at MSU, evolved through veterinary immunology at the University of Kentucky, and expanded to translational neuroscience during postdoctoral work with Dr. Eva Feldman at the University of Michigan.