FEATURED NEWS!
We just launched the Johnson & Morganti Lab interactive datasets exploring the role of APOE across aging, inflammation, and AD pathology. The following datasets are comprised of i) whole brain tissue (bulk) sequencing, ii) whole brain scRNAseq, iii) microglia only scRNAseq, and iv) spatial transcriptomics. Brains from female APOE3 and APOE4 mice were analyzed across the lifespan (3, 12 and 24 months of age), and in the presence of an inflammatory challenge (LPS) or AD pathology (amyloid overexpression).  For details on methodology, please see Lee, Devanney et al., 2022. 
Whole Brain Tissue (Bulk) Sequencing
​Spatial Transcriptomics
​scRNAseq (All Cells)
​​scRNAseq (Microglia Only)
Recent Move to New Lab Space!

​We recently moved to the 1st floor of the Healthy Kentucky Research Building (HKRB). Photographs of the new lab space are below.
Meet Our Team
We are constantly expanding our research team. Please contact us for more information!
Lance Johnson, Ph.D.
Principal investigator, ASSOCIATE professor
Sangderk Lee, Ph.D.
data scientist ii
​
Nicholas L'Italien, M.S.
scientist i,
​LAB MANAGER
​
Katy Smith
​LABORATORY TECHNICIAN, 
​LAB MANAGER
​​
Nicholas Devanney
graduate student
Lesley Golden
GRADUATE STUDENT
Cassi Friday
GRADUATE STUDENT
Steve MacLean
GRADUATE STUDENT
Akhil Pallerla
Rotating m.d./ph.d. student
​
Gaby Morillo
visiting student
​
Diksha Satish
undergraduate  research assistant
Dahlia Siano
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Research

​Ongoing Projects
APOE & the PPP

​The central hypothesis of this project is that APOE influences neuronal function and survival through isoform-specific changes in glucose metabolism via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). To test our hypothesis, we are employing a unique ‘omics approach to test a novel mechanism which potentially ties E4 to neuropathological changes in cerebral glucose metabolism, oxidative stress and neuronal survival. ​
Mapping Metabolism in ​the Aging Brain

​Cerebral metabolism is based on a complex interplay between multiple cell types. What types of changes do each of these cells undergo during aging and in disease? Does APOE play a role? To begin to try to answer these questions, we are using a combination of single cell and spatial transcriptomic approaches to map metabolic changes in the brain across multiple cell types and brain regions. [In collaboration with Morganti and Sun labs]
Lipid Droplets, APOE, & AD

Interestingly, one of Dr. Alois Alzheimer's original findings in 1907 was that glial cells contained "adipose saccules." Many now think he was referring to lipid droplets. Does APOE have a role to play in modulating lipid droplet dynamics in the Alzheimer's (AD) brain? Our lab is attempting to answer that question using a combination of in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo approaches to probe the role of APOE in modulating lipid metabolism and lipid droplet biology.