Chelsea Johnson

Professional Background

I am in my final year of the graduate phase of the M.D./Ph.D. program and will be returning to medical school for clinical rotations in the fall of 2025. My dissertation research is focused on understanding how apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE4), a variant of the APOE gene that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), alters skeletal muscle and whole-body metabolism. Understanding the systemic effects of APOE4 in tissues like skeletal muscle that are tightly linked to overall metabolic health may help identify novel therapeutic targets or AD biomarkers in individuals at risk of AD based on the presence of an APOE4 allele. I am mentored by Drs. Paige Geiger and Jill Morris who have overlapping expertise in muscle physiology, lifestyle interventions, and brain health. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter, being active (running, cycling, swimming, hiking), and drinking coffee!

Mentors: Paige Geiger, Ph.D., and Jill Morris, Ph.D., Cell Biology, and Physiology