Jason D. Ulrich, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Neurology
Washington University, St. Louis

Dr. Ulrich’s research focuses on the pathological mechanisms underlying major genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD), such as APOE4 and rare variants in TREM2. In particular, his work focuses on the role of the innate immune response during the onset and progression of amyloid beta and tau pathology, and neurodegeneration. Dr. Ulrich graduated with a B.S. in chemistry and biological sciences from Quincy University in 2004 and a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Iowa in 2011. He has been an assistant professor at Washington University since 2015.

Funded Research

Project Description Researchers Funding
Characterization of Certain Human APOE Targeted Gene Replacement Mice

APOE4 is the strongest identified genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Strong evidence from Abeta-deposition mouse models and humans indicate that APOE4 influences the metabolism of Abeta within the brain, which promotes Abeta plaque pathology. The precise mechanism(s) by which APOE isoforms influence Abeta are not completely clear, although numerous in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that APOE4 slows the clearance of Abeta from the brain and facilitates the aggregation of monomeric Abeta.

 2016
$49,600

Selected Publications

These published papers resulted from Cure Alzheimer’s Fund support.
Jason D. Ulrich, Tyler K. Ulland, Marco Colonna, and David M. Holtzman, Elucidating the Role of TREM2 in Alzheimer’s Disease, Neuron, 94, 19 Apr 2017, 237-248