Interests
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 investigates 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.