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Biographical Sketch:

Jamie Johansen is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience in the Foundation Sciences Discipline.  She received her Bachelors of Science in Zoology at Michigan State University.  Jamie received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience also from Michigan State University, where she characterized a novel mouse model of Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (Kennedy’s Disease) in Cynthia Jordan’s and Marc Breedlove’s laboratory.  Jamie demonstrated that skeletal muscles have a critical role in this neurodegenerative disease.   She furthered her research interests in Kennedy’s Disease with a postdoctoral fellowship with Al La Spada at the University of Washington, and subsequent move to University of California San Diego.  Jamie broadened her research interests with a second postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan with William Dauer, studying genetic mouse models of Parkinson’s Disease.  Jamie was also part-time faculty at Eastern Michigan University, where she designed and implemented an introductory neuroscience course for EMU undergraduate students.

The Johansen laboratory has two main research goals.  1) Identify therapeutic targets in skeletal muscles of Kennedy’s Disease mice.  Using multiple disease models, her lab explores common mechanisms between models that may offer an opportunity for the development of a therapeutic.  2) Determine the function of leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), the most common hereditary cause of Parkinson’s Disease.  Using mouse models expressing or lacking the LRRK2 gene, we are examining the normal and mutant functions of LRRK2 proteins.


Education & Fellowships:

Specialty Interests:

neurodegeneration, neuroendocrinology, motor neuron diseases, Parkinson’s disease, androgens, androgen receptors, polyglutamine disease.


Honors:

• 2012 Kennedy’s Disease Association Research Grant
• 2010-2011 Neurology Training Grant, University of Michigan
• 2009 Genetic Approaches to Aging Training Grant, University of Washington
• 2006-2008 NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship, Michigan State University 
• 2005-2006 Neuroscience Program Training Grant, Michigan State University 

Memberships:

• Society for Neuroscience
• Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology

Specialty in Diseases and Conditions:

Kennedy’s Disease (Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy), Parkinson’s Disease, Androgen Insensitivity


Languages Spoken:

• English