Brooke Erika Hjelm

Brooke Erika Hjelm is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Cancer Biology at the University of Southern California. She holds the role of Culture and Engagement Champion, contributing to academic and institutional culture. Her research focuses on mitochondrial biology, psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and molecular mechanisms in cancer and autoimmune conditions. She has published extensively on topics such as mitochondrial DNA deletions, synaptic pathology in Alzheimer’s, and biomarker discovery for conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome and schizophrenia.

Her work integrates cutting-edge technologies like single-cell RNA sequencing and iPSC-derived models to study disease mechanisms. Key areas of investigation include the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, genetic mutations in congenital heart defects, and the development of diagnostic biomarkers using miRNA profiling. She has contributed to translational initiatives such as the Foundational Data Initiative for Parkinson’s Disease, bridging genetic maps with clinical mechanisms.

No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text. While no student advisees are mentioned, her research collaborations span interdisciplinary teams addressing complex biological systems. Her work emphasizes the interplay between genetic, molecular, and environmental factors in disease pathogenesis.