Media Advisory

UF experts on Alzheimer’s disease research and therapy

The following University of Florida researchers are available to speak to reporters on a range of topics related to Alzheimer’s disease. If you are interested in speaking with a particular researcher, contact the UF Health communicator listed after the researcher’s information, or call Rossana Passaniti, media relations coordinator for UF Health, at 352-273-8569.

David Borchelt, professor of neuroscience, UF College of Medicine; director, SantaFe Health Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Research interests: Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), neurodegeneration

Borchelt focuses on defining the basic molecular events that underlie human neurodegenerative diseases and using that information to develop new therapeutic strategies using a variety of model systems to understand how mutations in specific genes cause diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease.

Recent clip:

MBI researchers find signs of Alzheimer’s pathology in dolphins

Contact Todd Taylor, assistant director of communications, McKnight Brain Institute, 352-294-8735, tmtaylor4@ufl.edu

 

Steven DeKosky, Aerts-Cosper Professor of Alzheimer’s Research, UF College of Medicine; deputy director, McKnight Brain Institute

Research interests: structural and neurochemical changes in the human brain in aging and dementia and effects of traumatic brain injury

DeKosky is the founding chair of the Advisory Council of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Treatment. He has testified multiple times before U.S. Senate committees for additional research funding for Alzheimer’s disease and has met with government officials in other countries as a consultant and advocate for programs and support for people with dementia.

Recent clips:

  1. Steven DeKosky discusses Alzheimer’s diagnostics
  2. Todd Golde discusses dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Examining the link between contact sports and neurological disease

Contact Todd Taylor, assistant director of communications, McKnight Brain Institute, 352-294-8735, tmtaylor4@ufl.edu

 

Todd Golde, professor, Department of Neuroscience, UF College of Medicine; director, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute; director, 1Florida ADRC; member, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease

Research interests: Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

Golde’s aim is to understand neurodegenerative disease, create models that mimic aspects of the disease process, identify targets for intervention; and develop and evaluate therapies that might alter the disease course.

Recent clips:

Neuroscientists find new avenue for treating Alzheimer's

The two obstacles holding back Alzheimer’s research

A Bridge to Translation

Contact Todd Taylor, assistant director of communications, McKnight Brain Institute, 352-294-8735, tmtaylor4@ufl.edu

 

Michael Marsiske, associate professor of clinical and health psychology, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions

Research interests: Cognitive aging, with a particular emphasis on cognitive intervention strategies with older adults

Since 1997, Marsiske has been a principal investigator on the National Institute on Aging ACTIVE trial, a clinical trial of cognitive training for older adults.  Marsiske has also been funded by the National Institute on Aging, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and UF’s McKnight Brain Institute for studies of a variety of cognitive intervention approaches with older adults including exercise promotion, exergames, aerobic fitness, action video games, self-administered computer training, and cognitive collaboration.

Contact Jill Pease, communications director, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, 352-273-5816, jpease@phhp.ufl.edu

 

Catherine Price, associate professor of clinical and health psychology, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions

Research interests: Brain function changes in older adults after surgery and anesthesia, dementia, movement disorder dementias

Price investigates why certain adults experience cognitive change after surgical procedures with anesthesia. Her work incorporates neuroimaging tools, biomarker methodology, digital forms of cognitive assessment, intraoperative monitoring and longitudinal assessment.

Recent clips:

PeCAN for brain health

7 possible reasons you’re having those weird memory lapses

Recognizing risks

Contact Jill Pease, communications director, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, 352-273-5816, jpease@phhp.ufl.edu

 

Glenn Smith, Elizabeth Faulk Endowed Professor and chair, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions

Research interests: Neuropsychology, dementia

Smith founded the HABIT Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking program for persons with mild cognitive impairment. He is principal investigator of the Comparative Effectiveness of Behavioral Interventions to Prevent or Delay Dementia and co-principal investigator of the Alzheimer’s Disease Patient and Caregiver Powered Research Network projects funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Recent clips:

Alzheimer's research yields little in way of new drugs; some suggest alternatives

HABIT: Delaying Dementia

Helpful Habits

Contact Jill Pease, communications director, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, 352-273-5816, jpease@phhp.ufl.edu

 

Uma Suryadevera, assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, UF College of Medicine; director, Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship program based at the Malcom Randall Veterans Administration Medical Center, Gainesville Fla.

Research interests: Psychiatric medical care for the elderly patients suffering from psychiatric and neuropsychiatric disorders

Suryadevera serves as a geriatric psychiatrist member on the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Committee. The 11-member board advises the State Surgeon General on the direction and scope of the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program.

Recent clip:

Opioid Use in the Elderly

Contact Todd Taylor, assistant director of communications, McKnight Brain Institute, 352-294-8735, tmtaylor4@ufl.edu