UASOM Faculty Profiles

Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine

http://www.gbs.uab.edu

http://www.uab.edu/graduate


Name	ERIK ROBERSON Patsy W. and Charles A. Collat Professor of Neuroscience Director, Alzheimer's Disease Center Director, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics Associate Director, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute
Campus Address	SHEL 1110 Zip 2182
Phone
E-mail	eroberson@uabmc.edu
Other websites	Roberson Lab Website CNET Website Alzheimer's Disease Center website

Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology

Cellular and Molecular Biology Program

Medical Scientist Training Program

Neuroscience

Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine

Dr. Roberson is a neurologist and neuroscientist whose research is focused on age-related cognitive impairment. He received his A.B. with highest honors from Princeton University, then earned his M.D. and Ph.D in neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine where he studied molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. He completed a residency in neurology at the University of California San Francisco, where he also served as Chief Resident in Neurology. After residency, he completed a clinical fellowship in behavioral neurology at UCSF and resumed basic research at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease. He joined the neurology faculty at UCSF in 2005 and moved to UAB in 2008. The Roberson lab studies the neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), using mouse models to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these disorders and identify new therapeutic strategies, with a particular focus on tau and progranulin. His lab is part of the UAB Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics (CNET), which Dr. Roberson leads along with Dr. Andrew West. Dr. Roberson is also active in clinical research and patient care, directing the UAB Alzheimer’s Disease Center, leading clinical trials, caring for patients with memory disorders and dementia at the Kirklin Clinic, and co-directing the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute for research on cognitive aging.

Organization Name

Position Held

Org Link

American Academy of Neurology

http://www.aan.com

American Neurological Association

http://myana.org

International Society to Advance Alzheimer Research and Treatment

http://www.alz.org/professionals_and_researchers_istaart.asp

Molecular and Cellular Cognition Society

http://www.molcellcog.org/

Society for Neuroscience

http://www.sfn.org

Title
Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia
Description
The Roberson lab studies the neurobiology of two common neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia, with a focus on understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that will lead to better treatments. We apply modern neuroscience approaches to study animal and cellular models of these conditions. We have shown that reducing expression of the microtubule-associated protein tau makes the brain resistant to Alzheimer-related impairments, and are using a variety of behavioral, electrophysiological, and biochemical approaches to better understand this protective effect. We are also studying animal models of frontotemporal dementia to understand how mutations in tau and progranulin cause the social and behavioral dysfunction seen in this condition.

Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, tau, progranulin, excitability, signaling, plasticity, behavior