THE ZACHARY & ELIZABETH M FISHER CENTER

Rockefeller university - fisher center lab:nathaniel heintz, phd leads the fisher center lab at the rockefeller university, home to one of the largest and most advanced alzheimer's research facilities in the world. His team studies the earliest molecular events of alzheimer'sbefore amyloid-beta (a) plaques and tau tangles form. Their research on selective cellular vulnerability aims to uncover why certain brain cells die earlier than others, which could be key to developing treatments.at the fisher center lab at the rockefeller university, researchers under the direction of nathaniel heintz, phd, continue to unravel the earliest molecular changes in alzheimer's disease, aiming to understand what makes certain brain cells most vulnerable. By pioneering cutting-edge molecular profiling techniques, they are making groundbreaking discoveries that pave the way for better treatments.researchers at the fisher center lab have refined advanced cellular analysis methods to examine how specific brain cell types are affected in the earliest stages of alzheimer's. This year, the team: developed new protocols for analyzing human hippocampus and entorhinal cortex cells. Identified early-stage neuron loss in vulnerable brain layers, offering insights into disease progression. Profiled 204 unique samples across 15 different cell types. Uncovered new transcriptional and epigenetic markers that help explain selective cellular vulnerability.data-driven milestone: this year's data have confirmed known patterns of disease and uncovered new molecular events that shed light on how alzheimer's progresses at the cellular level.understanding disease progression with new staging tools:one challenge in alzheimer's research is accurately determining disease stage in donor brain samples. The fisher center lab has now developed an in-house braak staging platform, ensuring that molecular findings are properly contextualized.recent discoveries: the earliest detectable change occurs in layers 2/3 and 4 of the cortex, reinforcing their susceptibility. No significant loss was observed in layer 5a pyramidal cells, a key distinction between alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Computational and bioinformatics tools are being applied to compare molecular changes in vulnerable vs. Resistant neurons.

Fisher center assistant professorship (cao):the fisher center foundation information program description and accomplishmentsjunyue cao, phd recipient of the fisher center for alzheimer's research foundation assistant professorship, dr. Cao is using advanced genomics and ai-driven analysis to study how gene expression and epigenetics influence alzheimer's progression.tracking brain cell changes over timejunyue cao, phd, was appointed as the rockefeller university's first fisher center foundation assistant professor, a role supported by the zachary and elizabeth m. Fisher fund for translational research in alzheimer's and neurogenerative disease. His lab developed trackersci, a powerful new technique that allows scientists to observe how brain cells change across different stages of life. By labeling and tracking tens of thousands of individual brain cells, the method reveals how certain types of cells decrease with age while others especially inflammatory cells become more common. These insights could help researchers better understand the early biological changes that lead to alzheimer's disease. A patent application for trackersci has been filed.

Nyu school of medicine professorship (sadowski):dr. Sadowski the zachary and elizabeth m. Fisher endowed professor in neurodegeneration and alzheimer's disease at nyu, dr. Sadowski studies glial cell dysfunction and the protective effects of peroxiredoxin 6, a potential alzheimer's therapy.at nyu grossman school of medicine's 2024 dean's honors day, dr. Sadowski was formally recognized with the appointment as the inaugural zachary and elizabeth m. Fisher professor of neurodegeneration and alzheimer's disease. This prestigious recognition celebrates his distinguished accomplishments in alzheimer's research and his profound contributions to nyu langone's academic and clinical mission.the new professorship will support dr. Sadowski's ongoing translational research into the causes of alzheimer's disease. It also coincides with the launch of the fisher center alzheimer's clinical trials program at nyu langone health, which expands access to emerging therapies and enables investigator-led trials focused on prevention. As both a clinician and researcher, dr. Sadowski continues to advance the field and bring new hope to patients and families affected by alzheimer's.