The Emory ALS Center: Glass Laboratory
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Jonathan D. Glass received his undergraduate degree from Middlebury College (Vermont) and his MD from the University of Vermont. He trained in Neurology and Neuropathology at Johns Hopkins, where he was a faculty member until being recruited to Emory in 1996. He is widely known for his research on the pathogenesis and prevention of axonal degeneration in neurological diseases, and for his work in human and experimental neuropathology. His laboratory is currently focusing on the role of axonal degeneration in animal models of ALS, as well as on proteomic biomarkers of ALS in animals and in humans with Dr. Junmin Peng in the Department of Genetics. Dr. Glass heads the division of Neuromuscular Diseases in the Department of Neurology and is the Director of the Emory ALS Center. Dr. Glass is also an active clinician who has been cited each year since 2001 as one of "America's Top Doctors" (Castle Connelly) and since 2005 as one of only 5 neurologists in "Atlanta's Top Doctors" (Atlanta Magazine). He is also a teacher and mentor to young physicians and served as the director of Emory's Neurology residency program from 2001-2006. |
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Jennifer Shoemaker began working as a post-doctoral fellow in the Glass Lab in October of 2007. After completing her dissertation centering on a potential treatment for ALS, she has continued in the field of peripheral neuropathy by studying axonal degeneration in a model of diabetes, a disease that leads to the dysfunction of sensory neurons. More specifically, Jennifer’s research focuses on the possible involvement of oxidative stress in the pathology of diabetic neuropathy. Complications arising from sensory neuropathies associated with diabetes are the leading cause for hospitalization of patients, so the demand for more research in this area remains high. |
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Lindsey Fischer is an MD/PhD student who is investigating the causes of axonal degeneration in ALS. While an undergraduate student at Emory, Lindsey identified a "dying back" pattern of motor neuron death in the SOD1 mouse model of ALS. She continues to work on the question of why motor axons are susceptible to degeneration in ALS, using cell culture and animal models. |
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Terrell Brotherton is a current graduate student in Emory’s Neuroscience PhD program. She attended Duke University as an undergraduate, where she majored in biology. Terrell’s current research focuses on the mechanism underlying selective motor neuron death in ALS. Motor neurons appear to be selectively vulnerable to accumulating protein aggregates in familial forms of ALS. Terrell is investigating the origin of these aggregates, as well as their potential toxicity to neurons. |
