University of Kentucky · PhysiologyAlzheimer's Research and Therapeutics Lab
Lance Allen Johnson · Lexington, Kentucky
Research Focus
Dr. Lance Allen Johnson's lab at the University of Kentucky focuses on understanding Alzheimer's disease and exploring innovative therapies that could help in its treatment. They are particularly interested in the role of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, which has two major alleles—E2, which is protective, and E4, which increases the risk of Alzheimer's. The lab is working with special mouse models to find out if switching from the harmful E4 allele to the beneficial E2 allele can help reverse some of the brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease. This research has the potential to lead to new therapies and better understanding of how to treat this complex condition.
Alzheimer's diseaseApolipoprotein Egene therapyallele switchingneuroinflammationmouse models
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the effects of APOE allele switching on Alzheimer's disease pathology.
AIM 02Determine which cell types contribute to the neurodegenerative effects of the E4 allele.
AIM 03Assess the potential of gene therapy to reverse cognitive deficits.
AIM 04Study the timing of APOE editing for optimal therapeutic outcomes.
AIM 05Provide a preclinical model for future clinical trials and therapeutic strategies.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRmouse modelsCre lox recombination systemcell cultureWestern blotflow cytometrygenetic engineeringimmunohistochemistrybioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications124bottom 38% of dept.178th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.5kbottom 28% of dept.205th of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.