Jennetta W. Hammond

Dr. Jennetta W. Hammond is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology, Neuroimmunology and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Her research focuses on neuroimmune mechanisms in neurological disorders, particularly investigating the Sez6 gene family and their roles in neuroprotection through complement regulation. She also explores mitochondrial stress pathways linked to movement disorders and autoimmune mechanisms in cerebellar ataxia.

Education:

• PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from the University of Michigan (2008)
• BS in Zoology from Brigham Young University (2002)

Research Interests:

• Complement system regulation in neurodegeneration
• Autoantibody-mediated cerebellar ataxia
• Mitochondrial dysfunction in movement disorders
• Animal model development for neuroimmune diseases

Her lab has identified the Sez6 gene family as critical regulators of synaptic preservation during development and disease states like Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. Current projects include studying Sez6L2 autoantibodies in autoimmune ataxia and characterizing the Mix23 gene’s role in mitochondrial stress.

Publications: Dr. Hammond has authored 17 journal articles focusing on neuroimmunology, complement biology, and molecular motor mechanisms. Recent work highlights synaptic protection strategies and novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.

Labs & Teams: Her research is conducted within the Center for Neurotherapeutics Discovery at the University of Rochester Medical Center, collaborating extensively on translational neuroscience projects.