Biographical Sketch:
As a physician-scientist, I have the privilege of caring for neuromuscular disease with a special focus on patients with motor neuron diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). My current research focuses on the emerging and poorly understood roles of cargo transport and cytoskeletal dynamics in neurodegenerative disease. I have broad experience in the development of ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) disease models. My long-term goal is to translate insights gained from cell biology, genetics, and proteomics for the development of precision medicine treatments for ALS.
Education & Training
- Fellowship, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Neuromuscular Medicine
- Residency, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Adult Neurology
- Intern, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Internal Medicine
- MD/PhD, Columbia University, Cellular Molecular and Biophysical Studies
- BS, Hampton University, Cellular and Molecular Biology
Board Certifications
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Professional Organization Membership
- American Physician Scientists Association
- American Academy of Neurology
- National Medical Association
- American Society for Cell Biology
- Society of Neuroscience
Honors & Awards
- K08 Mentored Clinician Scientist Award, National Institutes of Health, 2023
- Career Development Award, American Academy of Neurology, 2023
- COVID-19 Clinical Scientist Retention Award, The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Walder Foundation, 2022
- Clinical Research Training Scholarship (CRTS), The American Academy of Neurology in Collaboration with the American Brain Foundation and the ALS Association, 2021
- R25 Research Fellowship, NIH/NINDS, 2017
Selected Recent Publications
Baron DM*, Fenton AM*, Atienzar SS*, Giampetruzzi A*, Sreera A, Shankaracharya FNU, Keagle PJ, Doocy VR, Smith NJ, Danielson EW, Andresano M, McCormack MC, Garcia J, Bercier V, Ludo Van Den Bosch L, Brent JR, Fallini C, Traynor BJ, Holzbaur E, and Landers J. ALS-Associated KIF5A Mutations Abolish Autoinhibition Resulting in a Toxic Gain of Function. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110598. *Equal Contribution
Brent JR*, Wang JW*, Tomlinson A, Shneider NA, & McCabe BD. The ALS-associated proteins FUS and TDP-43 function together to affect Drosophila locomotion and life span, J Clin Invest. 2011 Oct; 121(10): 4118-4126. PMID: 21881207. *Equal Contribution
Brent JR, Werner KM, & McCabe BD. Drosophila larval NMJ dissection. J Vis Exp. 2009 Feb; 2009(24): 1107. PMID:19229190.
Brent JR, Werner K, McCabe BD. Drosophila larval NMJ immunohistochemistry. J Vis Exp. 2009 Mar; 2009(24): 1108. PMID: 19329927
Brent JR, Franz CK, Coleman JM 3rd, Ajroud-Driss S. ALS: Management Problems. Neurol Clin. 2020 Aug;38(3):565-575. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2020.03.013. Epub 2020 Jun 11. PMID: 32703469.
Brent JR and Ajroud-Driss S. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Practical Neurology (US). 2019;18(5):46-49;76.
Brent JR & Ozdinler PH. Deciphering the molecular logic of ALS using model organisms.” A family affair.” SOJ Neurology. July 2017. 4(1): 1-3.
Brent JR, Deng HX. Paving a way to treat spastic paraplegia 50. J Clin Invest. 2023 May 15;133(10):e170226. doi: 10.1172/JCI170226. PMID: 37183815; PMCID: PMC10178831.
