Okonkwo Lab News
Ira Invited to Give Oral Presentation at International Conference
Ira Frahmand has been invited to give an oral presentation at the AD/PD 2023 International Conference for her abstract “Alzheimer’s disease biomarker status is associated with KLOTHO genotype but not klotho protein levels in an …
December 1, 2022Ozioma Okonkwo Invited to NIA Expert Workgroup
Ozioma has been invited to serve on the NIA-Alzheimer’s Association expert workgroup that establishes definitions and boundary classifications for Alzheimer’s disease (i.e., the NIA-Alzheimer’s Association Research Framework for Alzheimer’s Disease).
December 1, 2022Noah Cook’s Abstract Accepted for a Poster Presentation
Noah Cook’s abstract “Alzheimer’s disease biomarker status associates with KLOTHO genotype but not klotho protein levels in an at-risk cohort” was accepted for a poster presentation at the 2022 Department of Medicine Research Day. This …
December 1, 2022Ira’s Manuscript Accepted for Publication
Ira Frahmand’s manuscript “AD-associated CSF biomolecular changes are attenuated in KL-VS heterozygotes” was accepted for publication in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. Congratulations, Ira!
December 1, 2022LIFE Study Enrolls 150th Participant
We have a lot to celebrate here in the Okonkwo lab, as the LIFE study enrolled its 150th participant!! This is a momentous time for everyone in the lab. Congratulations, everyone! Special shoutout to our …
November 17, 2022Max Gaitán’s Manuscript Accepted for Publication
Our former lab member Max Gaitán’s manuscript titled, Circulating klotho is higher in cerebrospinal fluid than serum and elevated in KLOTHO heterozygotes in a cohort with risk for Alzheimer’s disease, has been accepted for publication …
September 20, 2022Kyle’s Abstract Accepted for Talk at UW-Madison Postdoctoral Symposium
Kyle’s abstract, Cardiorespiratory fitness attenuates the deleterious effects of sleep apnea on cerebral structure, perfusion, and risk of Alzheimer’s disease in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort study was accepted for a 5-minute blitz talk at the annual …
September 13, 2022Kaitlin Maxa Accepted to Masters Program
Former lab member, Kaitlin Maxa, has been accepted into the Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling program at Suffolk University! Not only that, but she also has a Fellowship position in the Counseling, Health, …
September 13, 2022Natascha’s First Last-Author Manuscript Published
Natascha Merten’s first last-author manuscript, “Novel results on longitudinal associations of sensory and motor function and blood-based biomarkers for AD and neurodegeneration,” has been published! This is an amazing accomplishment and we could not be …
August 31, 2022Ozioma Okonkwo Appointed to NTP Steering Committee
Ozioma has been selected for a 3-year term on the Neuroscience Training Program (NTP) Steering Committee. This Committee is the executive arm of the NTP and is responsible for making all major program decisions.
August 23, 2022Kyle Receives Loan Repayment Award
Postdoctoral fellow Kyle Edmunds was recently awarded a Loan Repayment Award from the NIH. What an amazing accomplishment; congratulations, Kyle!
August 10, 2022Okonkwo Lab at AAIC 2022
The Okonkwo Lab is at AAIC 2022 in San Diego, California! John Omelina is presenting a virtual poster: Increasing obstructive sleep apnea severity may have a deleterious effect on cognitive function Clayton McIntyre is presenting …
August 2, 2022Beth and Ozioma’s Editorial Accepted
Ozioma Okonkwo and Beth Planalp’s invited editorial titled “Is 112 the new 10,000? Step count and dementia risk in the UK Biobank” has been accepted for publication in JAMA Neurology. Congratulations Beth and Ozioma!
July 15, 2022Lucky Number 7
Our lab continues to grow, and we are thrilled to welcome 7 additional lab members to the team! Dr. Joe Strong is an Associate Scientist for the ADNI Engagement Core. He is joining us from …
July 15, 2022Welcome New Lab Members!
Our lab is growing! We are delighted to welcome 5 new lab members to the team! Rachel Tilsen is the lead Community Research Navigator for the ADNI Engagement Core that is co-led by Dr. Okonkwo. …
July 7, 2022Ryan Dougherty Receives Favorable Score on K01
Former lab member, Ryan Dougherty, received a favorable score on his recently-submitted K01 grant titled, “Energy expenditure, cognitive function, and biomarker features of Alzheimer’s disease.” Official funding is likely on the horizon. This is an …
June 8, 2022Ben Accepted into Medical School
Congratulations to Ben Rackovan for getting accepted into Medical School at the Medical College of Wisconsin. This is a phenomenal achievement; we are all very proud!
June 3, 2022Natascha Earns Professional Development Grant
Natascha Merten has been awarded an Academic Staff Professional Development Grant to continue her streak of outstanding accomplishments. Way to go, Natascha!
May 13, 2022Clayton Vesperman’s Manuscript to be Published
Clayton Vesperman’s manuscript titled Cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition in persons at risk for Alzheimer’s disease has been accepted for publication in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring. Congratulations on this accomplishment, Clayton!
May 11, 2022Kyle to Present at Alzheimer’s Association Event
Kyle Edmunds will be presenting at the Alzheimer’s Association’s meet and greet event in the Madison area. They will be sharing findings related to how modifiable lifestyle factors – such as sleep and exercise – might …
May 11, 2022Natascha’s Manuscript Published
Natascha Merten’s manuscript titled Better cognitive function in younger generations – Insights from two cohort studies of middle-aged to older adults in Wisconsin has been published in the Maturitas journal. The article can be found here. …
May 9, 2022Natascha Earns Travel Grant
Natascha Merten has earned a conference attendance fellowship from the AAIC for this summer’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in San Diego. Congratulations, Natascha!
April 28, 2022Clayton Presents at Undergraduate Symposium
Clayton McIntyre presented findings from his Hilldale Fellowship project at the 2022 UW-Madison Undergraduate Symposium. Well done, Clayton!
April 28, 2022Ozioma Okonkwo to Serve as Guest Editor in Alzheimer’s Association Journal
Ozioma Okonkwo has been invited to serve as a guest editor for a special edition of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Diagnosis, Assessment, and Disease Monitoring journal. The special issue will focus on “Disparities and Multi-Level Social Determinants …
April 25, 2022Ozioma Okonkwo Appointed to Neurobiology Steering Committee
Ozioma Okonkwo has been appointed to the Neurobiology Steering Committee, the faculty governance of UW-Madison’s Undergraduate Neurobiology Major in Integrative Biology. The Steering Committee serves several functions including helping the program meet goals related to …
April 25, 2022Ozioma Okonkwo Appointed Chair of Research Day Committee
Ozioma Okonkwo, PhD has been appointed chair of the UW-Madison Department of Madison 2022 Research Day Program Committee. Congratulations, Ozioma!
April 25, 2022Okonkwo Lab to present at AAIC 2022
Several lab members have had their abstracts accepted for presentation in a variety of formats at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in San Diego, California: Natascha Merten (oral presentation) Kyle Edmunds (oral presentation, poster …
April 13, 2022Ozioma Appointed to DOM Research Education Sub-Committee
Congratulations to Ozioma Okonkwo on appointment to the Department of Medicine Research Education Sub-Committee. This committee serves to recommend, organize, and sponsor a variety of seminars, workshops, and events that showcase exemplary research and scholarship …
April 4, 2022Natascha Earns CapEx Award
Congratulations to Natascha Merten for earning a $20k CapEx award for freezers to support work on the BOSS study!
April 4, 2022Clayton Accepted to Graduate School
Congratulations to Clayton McIntyre on accepting an admission offer from Wake Forest University’s Neuroscience PhD program! Clayton will begin his PhD training in Fall 2022.
April 4, 2022- More News