Eugene M. Johnson, Jr., Ph.D.
Norman J. Stupp Professor of Neurology
Professor of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology
Co-Director, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Washington University
School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri
"Trophic factor deprivation-induced neuronal death "
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Dr. Johnson has made ground-breaking and important observations in a number of areas of neuroscience. In the early 1980's, he proved that Nerve Growth Factor is retrogradely transported. He used a ligature model in guinea pigs to demonstrate for the first time that this transport occurred. This finding was key for developing the concept of retrograde signaling by neurotrophic factors that guided thinking and research in the neurotrophic factor field for the next 25 years. Dr. Johnson's research has helped to explain how nerve cells die without sufficient amounts of neurotrophic factors, as occurs during normal development. Since reporting 15 years ago that neuronal death caused by trophic factor deprivation is an active, synthesis-dependent process, his laboratory has focused on the elucidation of the biochemical and genetic pathways involved in this programmed cell death and in pharmacological manipulation to prevent nerve cell death in neurological disease. In collaboration with Dr. Jeffrey D. Milbrandt, Dr. Johnson's team discovered three new neurotrophic factors, all members of the Glial Derived Neurotrophic Factor family. With the ability to protect and restore nerve cells, these proteins may provide a basis for medically preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. His long-range goal is to contribute to the amelioration of neuronal degenerative processes.
Dr. Johnson earned a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy in 1966 and a Doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry in 1970, both from the University of Maryland. He joined the Washingotn University School of Medicine faculty in 1976, where he received eight Distinguished Teaching Service Awards. He serves on several national editorial boards (Neuron, Journal of Neuroscience, Synapse, Neurobiology of Disease, and Journal of Neurotrauma) and is a Section Editor for Neurobiology of Aging and Experimental Neurology. He serves on several committees, including the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer's Disease Association and the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Aging (NIA). He has received a MERIT Award from the NIA, was named Decade of the Brain Medalist by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and has received a Jacob Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from NINDS. Most recently, he has received the Carl and Gertie Cori Faculty Achievement Award and the Mentor Award from the Academic Women's Network. He has ten patents and 198 refereed publications.
To learn more about Dr. Johnson's research click here. |
