Our research examines the role of cellular senescence in Alzheimer’s disease. Using direct conversion of patient-derived fibroblasts, we generate neurons that capture individual aging signatures and compare these features with clinical, neuroimaging, and proteomic data. We also investigate senescence in microglia and other glial populations to better understand how aging across different cell types may contribute to neurodegenerative vulnerability. Through these approaches, we aim to clarify senescence-related mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease and explore potential avenues for therapeutic development. 

This project aims to investigate how endothelial cells and microglia contribute to vascular neurodegeneration. Using patient-derived and control iPSC models, we will examine differential cellular responses to vascular neurodegeneration related perturbations, enabling us to capture patient-specific vulnerability that cannot be observed in conventional systems. Single-cell RNA sequencing will be used to map early transcriptional and functional changes along disease-relevant pathways. Through these comparisons, we hope to identify mechanisms that link vascular dysfunction, inflammation, and neuronal injury, guiding future efforts in biomarker and therapeutic development.

(No graduate student role for cohort management) The BICWALZS cohort, led by Principal Investigator Chang Hyung Hong, is a core clinical platform optimized for research in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular neurodegeneration. Hyun Woong Roh contributes to the practical aspects of cohort management, including cross-sectional and longitudinal data collection, clinical phenotyping, neuroimaging, and biospecimen coordination across approximately 1,300 participants, along with a biobanking of more than 250 patient-derived fibroblasts and over 30 iPSC lines. This integrated resource supports patient-specific modeling and provides a strong foundation for translational research, biomarker discovery, and mechanistic studies in aging-related cognitive disorders.