Erin Hascup Lab

    Overview

    Alzheimer’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder that over time leads to severe memory impairment and greatly impacts patients and their loved ones. There is no cure or effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and recent evidence support early intervention as essential for improving disease outcome. 

    Our lab is dedicated to finding effective preventions and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Research emphasis is on determining risk factors, and their associated mechanisms, that contribute to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease that will allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment to improve patient outcome. To accomplish this, we focus on discovery of early biomarkers and intervention strategies, primarily in the areas of neurotransmission, inflammation, and cell senescence, in combination with cognitive assessments.

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    Erin R. Hascup, PhD Primary Investigator

    Director, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Associate Professor of Neurology

    Research Focus

    CURRENT PROJECTS

    • Neurotransmitter Regulation in AD (NIH R01 AG057767)
    • Early Intervention in AD
    • Cell senescence in aging and AD (NIH R01 AG061937)
    • Inflammation in aging and AD (NIH R01 AG061937)
    • Disease Stage Specific AD Therapies (NIH R01 AG057767)
    • Cell senescence in epilepsy

    News

    Alzheimers

    Providing hope, quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s

    Art Express is one of many programs at the Smith Alzheimer’s Center at SIU Medicine designed to help those with dementia and their caregivers improve their quality of life.
    Cell sensescence

    Going on the offensive: The potential link between cell senescence and Alzheimer's

    When you catch a cold or cut your finger, the immune system begins the healing process by clearing damaged cells. As we age, that process weakens. Health problems linger as immune systems aren’t quite as robust as they once were, whether it’s fighting bacteria, viruses, or cancer cells. Alzheimer’s researchers are now exploring a process called senescent cell accumulation to see if it could be detrimental.
    Hascup Lab

    ALS drug shows varying effects against Alzheimer’s, metabolism

    Effects are unique between males and females A recent study from the Hascup labs at SIU Medicine has shown how riluzole, a drug compound typically used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

    Past Lab Team Members

    • Lindsay Alewelt
    • Sarah Broderick
    • Matthew Cleveland, MD
    • MaKayla Cox
    • Nahayo Esperant-Hilaire, MD       
    • Tracey Evans, PhD
    • Caleigh Findley, PhD
    • Patrick Fitzgerald, MD
    • Thomas Johnston
    • Nadeem Khan, MD
    • Abigail Levy, MD
    • Erik Lokaitis
    • Neha Mokhasi
    • Oladele Owasoyo, PhD
    • Sujata Pandey
    • Collin Pauly
    • Teonna Piphus
    • Shari Randall
    • Shelly Reeter
    • Hannah Roberts
    • Lindsey Sime
    • Ernesto Solis, Jr., PhD
    • Aaron Sul, MD
    • Farah Tamizuddin, MD
    • Darrow Traylor
    • Niyant Vora
    • Bradley Vost, MD