University of Kentucky · PharmacologyThe Barrier Breakthrough Lab
Anika M.S. Hartz · Lexington, Kentucky
Research Focus
Dr. Anika M.S. Hartz leads research focused on understanding the blood-brain barrier's role in Alzheimer's disease. Her lab investigates how the proteins amyloid and tau disrupt this barrier, contributing to cognitive decline. Additionally, the lab explores the impact of environmental chemicals like bisphenols on Alzheimer’s, aiming to uncover new treatment strategies to protect brain health and slow the disease's progression.
Alzheimer's Diseaseblood-brain barrieramyloidtaubisphenolscognitive declineneurodegenerationenvironmental risk factorstherapeutic intervention
Research Aims
5AIM 01Identify the mechanism responsible for tau-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction.
AIM 02Determine tau transport across the blood-brain barrier.
AIM 03Develop a therapeutic intervention to repair amyloid/tau-induced barrier dysfunction.
AIM 04Identify the mechanism responsible for bisphenol-induced barrier dysfunction.
AIM 05Develop a strategy to repair bisphenol-induced barrier dysfunction and slow cognitive decline.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelscell cultureWestern blotRNA extractionimmunofluorescenceflow cytometryin vivo imagingbiochemical assaysdata analysis
Output against the department
Publications80bottom 18% of dept.377th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.2ktop 50% of dept.230th of 462
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.