Brent Laboratory

Jonathan R. Brent M.D., Ph. D.

Jonathan R. Brent M.D., Ph. D.

Assistant Professor of Neurology

Interests

As a physician-scientists, 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 form cell biology, genetics, and proteomics for the development of precision medicine treatments for ALS.

Training

BS Cellular and Molecular Biology Hampton University 9/2002 - 5/2006
PhD Cellular, Molecular and Biophysical Studies Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 8/2006 - 12/2011
MD Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons 8/2006 - 5/2013
Internal Medicine Internship Northwestern Memorial Hospital 6/2013 - 6/2014
Adult Neurology Residency Northwestern Memorial Hospital 7/2014 - 6/2017
Research Fellow, Physician-Scientist Training Program Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 7/2017 - 6/2018
Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship Northwestern Memorial Hospital 7/2018 - 6/2019

Positions Held

Assistant Professor of Neurology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Present

Honors and awards

2023 K08 Mentored Clinician Scientist Award, National Institutes of Health
2023 Career Development Award, American Academy of Neurology
2022 Career Development Award, American Academy of Neurology COVID-19 Clinical Scientist Retention Award, The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Walder Foundation
2021 Clinical Research Training Scholarship (CRTS), The American Academy of Neurology in Collaboration with the American Brain Foundation and the ALS Association
2017 R25 Research Fellowship, NIH/NINDS

Selected 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.