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Joseph Castellano, PhD

Associate Professor of Neuroscience

Dr. Castellano earned his PhD with David Holtzman at Washington University, where he studied mechanisms tying the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease to metabolism of the pathogenic amyloid beta peptide. He employed in vivo microdialysis to show in behaving mice that clearance of this peptide is impeded by the presence of ApoE4 whereas clearance in the context of more protective forms is faster. During postdoctoral training in Tony Wyss-Coray’s group at Stanford University, he became engrossed in characterizing factors in the periphery that reverse features of brain aging, finding that neonatal plasma treatment revitalizes hippocampal function in aged mice. His group now focuses on characterizing the activity of blood-borne proteins like TIMP2 that mediate long-range effects on circuits in the brain in the context of Alzheimer’s disease.

Education & Training

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship: Stanford University

  • PHD: Washington UNiversity in St. Louis

  • BS: University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Awards

  • NIA/NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award

  • 2015 New Vision Award, Donor’s Cure Foundation, Charleston Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Postdoctoral Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award

  • Stanford Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship

  • NIH Child Health Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship

  • Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Fellowship, Simons Foundation Fellow

  • 34th Annual James L. O’Leary Prize for Research in Neuroscience (Washington University)

  • Hope Center Award Finalist for Research in Translational Neuroscience

  • Conference Assistant Award, Keystone Conference (J5), Neurodegenerative Diseases

  • Predoctoral Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award

  • Phi Beta Kappa

  • Outstanding Graduate for Excellence in Biochemistry Award (UMBC)

  • Provost’s Undergraduate Research Award (UMBC)

Funding

  • Alzheimer’s Association research grant

  • NIH/NIA R01
    Mechanisms of youth-associated blood-borne factors regulating CNS rejuvenation

  • ADRC Developmental project Award

  • Black Family Stem Cell Institute Pilot Award

  • NIH/NIA R01
    Mechanisms of TIMP2-mediated hippocampal revitalization in Alzheimer's disease

  • BrightFocus Foundation Grant
    Plasma Protein-mediated Effects of ApoE4 Expression on Brain Function in Alzheimer's Disease

  • Katz & Martin Friedman Brain Institute Research Scholar Award
    Blood-borne Molecules to Target Alzheimer's Disease Pathology

  • NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award
    Regulation of Hippocampal Plasticity and Learning & Memory by a Bloodborne Rejuvenation Factor

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