Dr. Alyssa H. Hasty is a pathologist and the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Hasty’s research interests focus on the role of macrophages in obesity and cardiometabolic disease. She is interested in the contribution of microglial cells to the iron excess observed in Alzheimer’s disease.  

Dr. Hasty completed her doctoral degree in pathology at Vanderbilt University and postdoctoral fellowships at Tokyo University and Vanderbilt University. She joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2001. 

Dr. Jason A. MacGurn is a biochemist and an Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University. Dr. MacGurn’s research interests focus on the molecular mechanisms that regulate the composition of proteins at the plasma membrane. In particular, he is investigating how the restoration of protein degradation capacity can reverse cellular pathologies associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. MacGurn is a member of the training faculty for the Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Training Program in Alzheimer’s Disease (T32). 

Dr. MacGurn completed his doctoral degree in biochemistry and biophysics at University of California, San Francisco and a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University. He joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2013. 

Dr. Michelle Houston is a Principal Population/Public Health Manager at the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center. In this role, she oversees all clinical research data collection operations. Dr. Houston earned a PhD in adult development and aging from the University of Akron in 2023 where she also earned a master's degree in 2018 and bachelor's degree in psychology in 2016.

While at the University of Akron, Dr. Houston conducted research exploring age differences in cognitive function, specifically related to creativity, memory, and attention. She also worked with the Conquer Chiari Research Center, exploring neuropsychological and neuroimaging correlates of cerebellar disorders.

In her free time, Dr. Houston enjoys hiking the beautiful trails around Tennessee and exploring the food scene around Nashville!

Dr. Craig W. Lindsley is a chemist and a Professor of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Lindsley’s research interests focus on developing small molecules to validate novel targets and mechanisms in in vivo animal models, and he studies the development of allosteric modulators of G protein-coupled receptors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Lindsley is an investigator in the Vanderbilt Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. 

Dr. Lindsley completed his doctoral degree in chemistry at University of California, Santa Barbara and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. He joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2006.  

Dr. Howard S. Kirshner is a board-certified behavioral and vascular neurologist and a Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Kirshner has clinical expertise in the intersection of vascular pathology and Alzheimer’s disease and sees patients in the Stroke Division and Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Division of the Department of Neurology. Dr. Kirshner is an investigator in the Vanderbilt Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.  

Dr. Kirshner completed medical school at Harvard Medical School and a neurology residency and clinical fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. He joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 1978.

Dr. Chengwen Zhou is a neuroscientist and an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Zhou’s research interests focus on how brain-states influence and trigger seizure onset with homeostatic synaptic plasticity mechanisms. He is also interested in the role sleep-related activity plays in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Zhou is a member of the training faculty for the Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Training Program in Alzheimer’s Disease (T32).  

Dr. Zhou completed a master’s degree in neurobiology at Shanghai Institute of Physiology and a doctoral degree in visual neuroscience at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Zhou completed a postdoctoral fellowship in synaptic plasticity, pediatric epilepsy, and seizure disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2011. 

Dr. Warren D. Taylor is a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Taylor has clinical expertise in the treatment of older adults with depressive disorders with and without cognitive impairment. He sees patients in the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Taylor’s research interests focus on applying positron emission tomography to examine Alzheimer’s pathology biomarkers in older adults with depression. Dr. Taylor is a collaborator of the Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project, an investigator in the Vanderbilt Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and a preceptor for the Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Training Program in Alzheimer’s Disease (T32).  

Dr. Taylor completed medical school at University of South Florida School of Medicine and an adult psychiatry residency and geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Duke University. Dr. Taylor also completed a master’s degree in health sciences at Duke University. He joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2012.

Dr. Sandra F. Simmons is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Simmons’ research interests focus on identifying clinical interventions to improve both quality of care and quality of life among older adults in a variety of healthcare settings, including individuals with dementia residing in assisted-living settings. Dr. Simmons is an investigator in the Vanderbilt Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.  

Dr. Simmons completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology and gerontology at Pennsylvania State University. She joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2006.