Research on Alzheimer’s Disease at the McLaughlin Research Institute in Great Falls Received National Institutes of Health Grant Award of >$3.1M

Dr. Tiffany Hensley-McBain of Great Falls, MT, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant award, of >$3.1M over 5 years, for her work to understand Alzheimer’s disease and translate findings to clinical applications that may help those with Alzheimer’s disease across Montana and beyond.  The project is titled “Investigating neutrophilic inflammation as an APOE genotype-specific mediator of neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in aging.”

Dr. Hensley-McBain grew up in Great Falls, MT, and completed her undergraduate education at Montana State University and doctoral and postdoctoral work at the University of Washington.  She “returned home” to Great Falls, Montana, and assumed her position as an Assistant Professor at the McLaughlin Research Institute and the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Montana (TouroCOM-MT) campus in autumn of 2021.  As noted by Dr. Renee Reijo Pera, CEO and Director of the McLaughlin Research Institute and Dean of Research at TouroCOM-MT: “We are so fortunate to have Tiffany here in Great Falls and Montana.  She is an especially talented scientist who is competitive nationally as noted by this NIH Award.  In just a short time, Tiffany has achieved independent science status and is directly addressing one of the most important health problems to Montanans.”

The work of Dr. Hensley-McBain is especially important to understanding age-related immunological and genetic factors that are risk factors for Alzheimer’s.  Indeed, to quote the words of Dr. Tiffany Hensley-McBain: “Those with two copies of the APOE4 gene are 12 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to those with two copies of the APOE3 version of the gene, yet how different APOE gene alleles mediate Alzheimer’s risk is unclear. Studies suggest that different APOE genotypes result in altered inflammatory responses, which may lead to neuroinflammation, neural damage, and cognitive decline in individuals with APOE4. In this study, we will test the theory that neutrophils, an inflammatory cell type that can damage tissue, play a role in neuroinflammation in individuals with APOE4, and determine if and how neutrophils could be targeted in individuals with APOE4 who have Alzheimer’s disease or are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.”  Tiffany’s colleagues who reviewed this work, and the National Institutes of Health, clearly concur that her work is of direct importance to understanding and ultimately, treating, Alzheimer’s disease.