
Lance A. Johnson, PhD
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
@LJohnsonLab
Lance grew up in Asheville, NC and attended the University of North Carolina for both his undergraduate and graduate studies. He completed his PhD in the prestigious joint laboratory of Excellence Professor Nobuyo Maeda and Nobel Laureate Oliver Smithies. Under their exceptional guidance, Lance studied how the various isoforms of apolipoprotein E (APOE) affected atherosclerotic plaque development. Fascinated by advances in neuroscience and intrigued by the role of apoE in the brain, Lance secured a position as a NIH-funded Postdoctoral Fellow at Oregon Health & Science University, in beautiful Portland, OR. Under the mentorship of Professor Jacob Raber, he investigated the role of apoE in metabolism and cognitive function, and explored the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance-associated cerebrovascular dysfunction and recovery. Lance joined the Department of Physiology and Sanders Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky in December 2016. In addition to tinkering around in the lab, Lance loves spending time with his wife and kids, being outdoors, cooking, and playing basketball (poorly).
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
@LJohnsonLab
Lance grew up in Asheville, NC and attended the University of North Carolina for both his undergraduate and graduate studies. He completed his PhD in the prestigious joint laboratory of Excellence Professor Nobuyo Maeda and Nobel Laureate Oliver Smithies. Under their exceptional guidance, Lance studied how the various isoforms of apolipoprotein E (APOE) affected atherosclerotic plaque development. Fascinated by advances in neuroscience and intrigued by the role of apoE in the brain, Lance secured a position as a NIH-funded Postdoctoral Fellow at Oregon Health & Science University, in beautiful Portland, OR. Under the mentorship of Professor Jacob Raber, he investigated the role of apoE in metabolism and cognitive function, and explored the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance-associated cerebrovascular dysfunction and recovery. Lance joined the Department of Physiology and Sanders Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky in December 2016. In addition to tinkering around in the lab, Lance loves spending time with his wife and kids, being outdoors, cooking, and playing basketball (poorly).

Gabriela Hernandez
Research Analyst
Gabriela is a native of Mexico, where she earned her Degree in Veterinary Medicine from National Autonomous
University of Mexico. She has several years of experience in animal handling and care, and is an expert in a
variety of experimental techniques. In her free time she enjoys and playing tennis and soccer with her son and friends.
Research Analyst
Gabriela is a native of Mexico, where she earned her Degree in Veterinary Medicine from National Autonomous
University of Mexico. She has several years of experience in animal handling and care, and is an expert in a
variety of experimental techniques. In her free time she enjoys and playing tennis and soccer with her son and friends.

Cassi Friday
Graduate Student
Cassi Friday is originally from Leavenworth, Indiana and has had a variety of experience within research. While completing her Biology degree from Hanover College, she worked an internship administering vestibular integration therapy to children with sensory processing disorder and another completing a bioassessment of fish in the Ohio River as a Field Station researcher. Realizing her passion was more toward clinical research, she completed her master's degree at UK in biomedical science while studying pediatric obesity and its effects on the heart. Cassi is also a military spouse, a mom to three young wildlings, two dogs, and a cat, and she is a cave enthusiast. In the rare spare time she has, Cassi serves as an advocate for military spouse employment and is a volunteer and research consultant for a non-profit medical foundation. Cassi loves to travel and lift weights.
Graduate Student
Cassi Friday is originally from Leavenworth, Indiana and has had a variety of experience within research. While completing her Biology degree from Hanover College, she worked an internship administering vestibular integration therapy to children with sensory processing disorder and another completing a bioassessment of fish in the Ohio River as a Field Station researcher. Realizing her passion was more toward clinical research, she completed her master's degree at UK in biomedical science while studying pediatric obesity and its effects on the heart. Cassi is also a military spouse, a mom to three young wildlings, two dogs, and a cat, and she is a cave enthusiast. In the rare spare time she has, Cassi serves as an advocate for military spouse employment and is a volunteer and research consultant for a non-profit medical foundation. Cassi loves to travel and lift weights.

Addie Walsh
Laboratory Technician
Addie grew up in Burke, VA. She graduated in May 2019 from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Spanish. During undergrad, she was a member of the Cox Evolution and Ecology Lab, and her Distinguished Majors thesis focused on the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone on the sexually dimorphic characteristics in the brown anole lizard. She also spent one summer in the Kelly Lab at the NIH Bethesda Campus, where she studied kinetochore mechanisms and centromere proteins. She is looking forward to continuing to gain research experience and further exploring the fields of physiology and neuroscience during gap years before applying to graduate programs. Addie also loves to cheer on the Hoos and is an avid D.C. sports fan.
Laboratory Technician
Addie grew up in Burke, VA. She graduated in May 2019 from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Spanish. During undergrad, she was a member of the Cox Evolution and Ecology Lab, and her Distinguished Majors thesis focused on the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone on the sexually dimorphic characteristics in the brown anole lizard. She also spent one summer in the Kelly Lab at the NIH Bethesda Campus, where she studied kinetochore mechanisms and centromere proteins. She is looking forward to continuing to gain research experience and further exploring the fields of physiology and neuroscience during gap years before applying to graduate programs. Addie also loves to cheer on the Hoos and is an avid D.C. sports fan.