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.
Holden Williams
Graduate Student Holden grew up in Brookville, OH and attended Marshall University, graduating with a B.S. in Biology. During his undergraduate studies Holden participated in research exploring a novel treatment for Parkinson’s Disease which included a biomedical-engineered surgical implant aimed at recruiting and redirecting endogenous neural stem cell migration and proliferation. Holden wished to continue research in neuroscience while in graduate school, and is now interested in how apoE influences cerebral metabolism. Outside of the lab Holden enjoys competitive sports, weightlifting, longboarding and fishing. Holden does not enjoy writing personal excerpts about himself (but I think he did a good job with this one). 
Nick Devanney
Graduate Student Nick graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire, where he pursued an honors thesis in the laboratory of Dr. Charles Walker studying the interaction of p53 and the mitochondrial Hsp70 mortalin in a model of acute myeloid leukemia. After graduating, Nick spent 3 years as a research assistant with Dr. Basile Tarchini at The Jackson Laboratory in scenic Bar Harbor, ME studying cell polarity proteins and their role in the development of hair cells in the inner ear. Nick is the most recent graduate student addition to the Johnson lab, joining in April 2019. Nick's project seeks to add a microglial-focused twist to the lab's story concerning APOE's effect on brain energy homeostasis. Outside of the lab Nick's life is dominated by music. He is both a musician himself and an addict to strange electronic music, fully immersed in the local music culture. Growing up in proximity to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Nick has also cultivated a passion for the outdoors and spends most of his free time hiking in nearby Red River Gorge. Nick sorely misses his Maine winters, as he is a big fan of winter activities such as snowshoeing and snowboarding. 
Lesley Golden
Graduate Student Lesley grew up in St. Louis, MO and attended Murray State University where she graduated with a B.S. in Molecular Biology. During her undergraduate degree, Lesley studied transcription factors involved in the specification and maturation of pancreatic endocrine cells. She decided to pursue her PhD at the University of Kentucky and joined the lab in March of 2020. Lesley is interested in characterizing a novel mouse model and studying the effects of targeting APOE as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease. Outside of the lab Lesley enjoys spending time with her horses, hiking, and snuggling her cats. |
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.
Elizabeth Allenger Laboratory Technician Elizabeth grew up in Charleston, WV. She attended Marshall University in Huntington, WV where she studied Biology. While at Marshall University, Elizabeth worked in a Cell and Molecular Neurophysiology lab where she studied the harmful effects of silver nanoparticles. She is looking forward to working in the Johnson Lab and learning more about APOE. In her free time, Elizabeth loves to teach dance and play with her cats. |
Lab alumni
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Maggie Piron (DO/PhD program, Ohio University) DJ Carter (med school, University of Kentucky) Dr. Brandon Farmer (MD/PhD, Univ. of Kentucky)
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Dr. Eden Padayachee (private sector, South Africa) Jude Kluemper (med school, University of Kentucky) Rebika Khanal (med school, University of Kentucky)