Research Colloquium

The KU Alzheimer's Disease Center sponsors an annual Alzheimer's and Aging Research Colloquium. We partner with the KU Area Health Education Center to bring together a talented group of investigators around the area of cellular metabolism and its role in brain aging, a primary focus of our KU Alzheimer's Disease Center. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring in national level keynote speakers as well as to highlight the innovative research of area scientists and our KU Alzheimer's Disease Center's pilot award grantees, who are up-and-coming Alzheimer's and aging researchers.

A central mission of the KU Alzheimer's Disease Center is to foster collaboration among investigators and encourage students, trainees, and junior and seasoned investigators to use the resources of the Center. This annual educational event is designed to foster such opportunities and showcase ways in which area investigators are utilizing the resources of the center.

Dec. 14, 2012, colloquium speakers and topics

Bradley T. Hyman, M.D., Ph.D.
John B. Penney, Jr. Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital Director, Massachusetts Alzheimer Disease Research Center

Robyn A. Honea, D.Phil
Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Kansas School of Medicine
"Understanding the Impact of Mitochondrial Genetic Variation on Alzheimer's Disease Neurodegeneration"

Janna L. Harris, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Hoglund Brain Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center
"Altered Brain Metabolism in Animals: Models of Aging and Injury"

Mary L. Michaelis, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas
"Neuroprotective Effects of a Novel Hsp90 Modulator in Primary Neurons and Tau Mutant Mice"

T. Chris Gamblin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas
"Biochemical Determinants of Tau Toxicity"  

Gang Hu, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Deptartment of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Kansas
"Role of ABAD in Mitochondrial and Lipid Metabolism Relevant to Alzheimer's Disease" 

Chad Slawson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas
"O-GlcNAc Signaling Regulates Mitochondrial Function: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease"  

William Z. Suo, M.D. 
Director, Lab For Alzheimer's Disease & Aging Research, Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center;
Research Scientist and Associate Professor, Departments of Neurology and Physiology University of Kansas Medical Center
"Cholinergic Neuronal Vulnerability in AD"

Panel Discussion: What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Moderated by Russell Swerdlow, M.D.
Panel includes: Bradley T. Hyman, M.D., Ph.D.; Mary Lou Michaelis, Ph.D.; T. Chris Gamblin, Ph.D.; William Z. Suo, M.D.; and Jeffrey Burns, M.D., M.S.

Feb. 27, 2012, speakers and topics

Shirley ShiDu Yan, M.D. 
Howard Mossberg Distinguished Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Kansas
"Mitochondria as a Potential Therapeutic Target of Alzheimer's Disease" 
The role of mitochondria in neuronal and synpatic degeneration, and cognitive decline relevant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Targeting mitochondria could be a potential therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease.

Peter Koulen, Ph.D. 
Professor and Felix and Carmen Sabates Missouri Endowed Chair in Vision Research, Departments of Ophthalmology and Basic Medical Science
Director, Vision Research Center
University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Medicine
"Chronic Degeneration of the Retina and the Brain in Alzheimer's Disease - Common Mechanisms or Coinci¬dence?"
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and mild cogni¬tive impairment potentially leading to the development of AD is extremely difficult due to a lack of accepted detection methods and the difficulty to screen for early disease reliably and unambiguously. There is, however, great clinical need for such diagnostic methods as ultimately the field aims at prevention or early treatment of AD in order to avoid irreparable late-stage damage. The retina is both functionally as well as developmentally part of the brain, the organ primarily affected by AD and changes in the structure and function of the retina occur in AD patients. Generation of a matrix of patient-specific parameters that produce a unique and AD-specific "fingerprint" of structural and functional changes in the retina could enable a specific diagnosis without invasive or subjective measures and accelerate efforts to develop novel neuroprotective strategies in age-related diseases of the central nervous system.

Jeffrey Burns, M.D., M.S. 
Edward H. Hashinger Associate Professor of Neurology
Associate Director, KU Alzheimer's Disease Center
"Is Alzheimer's Disease a Systemic Disorder?" 
A discussion of early systemic changes observed in AD in metabolic processes including body weight, body composition, and insulin regulation

Kausik Si, Ph.D. 
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas School of Medicine
"The Molecular Basis of Persistence of Memory"
Experiences of the external world are stored in the brain as memories, sometimes lasting as long as the lifetime of the organism. We intend to understand how experiences are stored in the brain for months to years with proteins that has a life-time of hours to days. We investigate the possible involvement of an amyloidogenic self-sustaining molecular mechanism in long-lasting memory.

Elias K. Michaelis, M.D., Ph.D. 
University Distinguished Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Kansas
"Brain Aging, Oxidative Stress and Calcium Dysregulation" 
Presentation focused on studies aimed at achieving an understanding the processes that determine the greater sensi¬tivity of certain neuronal populations in brain to the damage caused by stresses or diseases. Biological aging is a major factor in the evolution of neurodegenerative diseases thus age-associated changes in neuronal metabolism, calcium regulation, and oxidative stress are being studied as likely determinants of differential vulnerability to disease-related neuronal damage.

Robyn A. Honea, Ph.D. 
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center 
Director, Brain Imaging and Neurogenetics Lab
"Adult Children of Mother's with Alzheimer's Disease; Are they at Higher Risk, and Why?" 
Beyond age, having a family history is the most significant risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the genetics of late-onset Alzheimer's disease are complex and there are still many unknowns. Research using brain imaging and biomarkers are starting to shed light on the mechanisms of risk for late-onset AD.

Russell Swerdlow, M.D. 
Professor of Neurology, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Director, University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center
"Brain Bioenergetics: A Possible Cause of Alzheimer's Disease and Potential Therapeutic Target" 
The role of bioenergetic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, as well as strategies for manipulating brain bioenergetics.