Joel Blanchard

Joel Blanchard, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Neuroscience and Cell, Developmental & Regenerative Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also an Investigator at the Black Family Stem Cell Institute and the Ronald Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease. His research focuses on developing human brain models using induced pluripotent stem cells to study and treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Education:

• BS, St. Lawrence University
• MLA, Harvard University
• PhD, The Scripps Research Institute & MIT

Research Interests:
Dr. Blanchard’s lab is dedicated to understanding the genetic and environmental vulnerabilities that lead to neurodegeneration. His team develops cutting-edge 3D brain organoids and blood-brain barrier models to investigate diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. A major focus is on the role of APOE4 in myelination, cholesterol metabolism, and vascular dysfunction.

Scientific Awards:

• Friedman Brain Institute Scholar Award (2021)
• ISSCR Merit Award (2019)
• Glenn Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018)
• California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Pre-doctoral Fellowship (2011)

Funding & Grants:
Dr. Blanchard’s lab is currently funded by NASA, NIH, and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. Active projects include the development of miBrain (multicellular integrated brain tissue), blood-brain barrier modeling, and APOE4-mediated mechanisms of neurodegeneration.

Lab & Team:
The Blanchard Lab is a multidisciplinary team of postdocs, graduate students, and research associates. The lab is actively recruiting postdoctoral fellows and is known for its collaborative, innovative environment focused on translational neuroscience.