معرفی
Dr. Gail Johnson is a Professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) with primary appointments in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology. She directs the Gail Johnson Lab, which is affiliated with the Center for Neurotherapeutics Discovery. Her research program spans multiple departments and focuses on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Johnson's research interests center on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, with a longstanding focus on Alzheimer's disease and more recent work on stroke and spinal cord injury. Her lab investigates how tau protein modifications contribute to neurodegeneration, with particular emphasis on autophagy pathways and the role of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in neural cell death and survival. A hallmark of her work is the use of diverse methodologies ranging from in vitro enzyme assays with purified proteins to studies in whole animal models, allowing for translation of molecular findings to in vivo contexts. Her research has revealed that autophagy is a primary degradative pathway for tau in neurons, and her lab is working to understand how tau is selectively targeted to autophagy for degradation.
Analysis of Dr. Johnson's recent publications reveals a strong focus on tau protein pathology, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroprotective mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases. Her work increasingly utilizes C. elegans models to study tau-related neuronal dysfunction, while also exploring astrocytic responses and the therapeutic potential of targeting transglutaminase 2. The breadth of her research spans molecular mechanisms, cellular pathways, and potential therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
Dr. Johnson actively mentors students and postdoctoral researchers, with numerous trainees appearing as first authors on publications. Her lab includes technicians, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows working collaboratively on various aspects of neurodegeneration research. The lab has received support for research on spinal cord injury and Alzheimer's disease mechanisms, with particular focus on understanding how specific protein modifications drive neurodegenerative processes.
The Gail Johnson Lab operates as an interdisciplinary research group that bridges molecular neuroscience, cell biology, and translational medicine. The lab maintains collaborations with other research groups at URMC, including the Nehrke lab for work with C. elegans models. Current research directions include understanding tau clearance mechanisms, investigating the role of BAG family proteins in CNS homeostasis, and developing therapeutic approaches targeting transglutaminase 2 for neuroprotection after spinal cord injury.
