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Chronic glial activation in Alzheimer’s disease drives a tumor-suppressive immune landscape
Dr. John D. Fryer, PhD
The Translational Genomic Research Institute, City of Hope
John D. Fryer, PhD, is a Professor at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, and Director of the Center for Accelerated Nanotherapeutics. His research program examines how immune and glial biology contributes to the intersection of aging, inflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
More recently, his laboratory has extended this work into cancer neuroscience by investigating how the inflammatory and immune environment associated with Alzheimer’s disease influences glioblastoma growth. Using complementary mouse models and analyses of human brain tumors, his group has found that Alzheimer’s disease pathology can markedly suppress glioma progression and alter the immune composition of the tumor microenvironment. Dr. Fryer’s broader research interests include neuroimmunology, brain tumor biology, translational therapeutics, and the development of antibody- and nanobody-based approaches for neurological disease and cancer.
Dr. Fryer trained as a graduate student under David M. Holtzman, MD at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi, MD at Baylor College of Medicine.
More recently, his laboratory has extended this work into cancer neuroscience by investigating how the inflammatory and immune environment associated with Alzheimer’s disease influences glioblastoma growth. Using complementary mouse models and analyses of human brain tumors, his group has found that Alzheimer’s disease pathology can markedly suppress glioma progression and alter the immune composition of the tumor microenvironment. Dr. Fryer’s broader research interests include neuroimmunology, brain tumor biology, translational therapeutics, and the development of antibody- and nanobody-based approaches for neurological disease and cancer.
Dr. Fryer trained as a graduate student under David M. Holtzman, MD at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi, MD at Baylor College of Medicine.
Resources available through the ADRCs and affiliated programs
Dr. Nina Silverberg, PhD
NIH/NIA
Dr. Nina Silverberg is the Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers Program at the National Institute on Aging. She oversees the efforts of 37 NIA-funded Centers at major medical institutions across the country; the Centers translate research advances into improved diagnosis, care and treatments for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
In addition, Dr. Silverberg previously developed portfolios covering: research ethics; cognitive, functional and behavioral assessment; clinical care; and technology. She supports efforts to assure that access to research opportunities are available to all and that the public is informed about the latest research, with a particular focus on brain donation and neuropathology. Dr. Silverberg chaired the White House Task Force on Aging and Technology, which included more than 20 different federal agencies and published the Tech4Aging report, which was released in 2019.
Dr. Silverberg received her Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Before joining NIA in 2005, she was a clinical research scientist at the NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, Az. There, she coordinated the American Indian outreach program, and participated on the research team for numerous neurodegenerative disease research projects and clinical trials.
In addition, Dr. Silverberg previously developed portfolios covering: research ethics; cognitive, functional and behavioral assessment; clinical care; and technology. She supports efforts to assure that access to research opportunities are available to all and that the public is informed about the latest research, with a particular focus on brain donation and neuropathology. Dr. Silverberg chaired the White House Task Force on Aging and Technology, which included more than 20 different federal agencies and published the Tech4Aging report, which was released in 2019.
Dr. Silverberg received her Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Before joining NIA in 2005, she was a clinical research scientist at the NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, Az. There, she coordinated the American Indian outreach program, and participated on the research team for numerous neurodegenerative disease research projects and clinical trials.