The Department of Neurology congratulates three staff members for being awarded the Neurology Staff Employees of the Quarter for Q1 FY26. The department accepts nominations for three award categories to highlight the dedication and accomplishments of our staff members — clinical, research and administration. Clinical Staff Employee of the Quarter Jill Smith Research Nurse CoordinatorMovement […]
Nearly 7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s and by 2060, experts say that number could be as high as 14 million. Scientists are trying to find out how one man has been able to stave off Alzheimer’s for 25 years, despite having a rare genetic mutation that, doctors say, essentially guaranteed he’d develop the […]
Our focus is simple: stop Alzheimer’s before it starts. This disease steals the moments that make us who we are and the memories we share. That’s why we believe in attacking Alzheimer’s from every angle — because every breakthrough means more time, more hope and more moments together for families who can’t wait.
Brendan Whitelaw, MD, PhD, is a third year in the Adult Neurology Residency Program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He is planning to specialize in vascular neurology and pursue a career as a physician scientist studying the molecular mechanisms driving cerebrovascular disease. Whitelaw went to college at the University of Pennsylvania, […]
Sarah Biber, PhD, is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work integrates data science, bioinformatics, human-centered systems engineering, and implementation science. From 2021 to 2025, she co-led the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) as Executive Director and multi-Principal Investigator (mPI), guiding its transformation into a modern multimodal cloud-based platform that integrates longitudinal clinical, imaging, neuropathological, biomarker, genomic […]
Alzheimer’s disease is notorious for scrambling patients’ daily rhythms. Restless nights with little sleep and increased napping during the day are early indicators of disease onset, while sundowning, or confusion later in the day, is typical for later stages of the disease. These symptoms suggest a link between the progression of the disease and the […]
Jan Kubanek, PhD, joined the faculty of WashU Medicine Department of Psychiatry on August 1, 2025, as associate professor of psychiatry in the Division of Clinical Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, with secondary appointments in the Department of Neurology and Department of Radiology. He brings combined experience in human and macaque electrophysiology, human and macaque behavioral […]
Scientists may have reached a breakthrough in the fight against Huntington’s disease, a rare and fatal inherited brain disorder with no cure. For the first time, a gene therapy has been shown in clinical trials to significantly slow the progression of the disease, raising cautious optimism among researchers and families.
Congratulations to the members of the Department of Neurology who received accolades through the Supporting a Fair Environment (SAFE) program! SAFE aims to improve the learning environment by promoting positive behaviors and managing concerns about learner mistreatment and unprofessional behaviors. SAFE accolades include treating others with dignity and respect, creating an environment that values diversity, […]