Meredith D. Hartley

Meredith D. Hartley is an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at the University of Kansas, where she leads the Hartley Research Group. Her work bridges chemistry and biology, focusing on myelin repair mechanisms in neurological diseases. She holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College (2005), a Ph.D. from MIT (2011), and completed postdoctoral training at Oregon Health & Science University (2011–2019).

Hartley's research explores lipid regulation during myelin damage/repair and hormone-mediated remyelination pathways. Her interdisciplinary approach combines lipidomics, chemical biology, and neurochemistry to identify therapeutic targets for conditions like multiple sclerosis. Key areas include:

• Lipid dynamics in myelin stability and repair
• Thyroid hormone/estrogen signaling in remyelination
• Biophysical properties of repaired myelin membranes

Her recent publications (2023–2025) demonstrate a strong focus on lipidomics, biophysical modeling of myelin, and neuroprotective strategies. Trends include advanced mass spectrometry techniques, cholesterol's role in membrane stability, and translational applications for demyelinating diseases.

Awards & Honors:

• Sutton Family Research Impact Award (2023)
• American Thyroid Association Early Career Research Grant (2020–2022)
• OHSU Postdoctoral Paper of the Year Award (2019)
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015–2018)
• ACS Predoctoral Fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry (2008–2009)

She mentors graduate students in the Hartley Lab, which employs cellular/mouse models, lipid mass spectrometry, and imaging techniques. Current projects investigate cholesterol supplementation for myelin stability and hormone-driven remyelination pathways.