Gareth Howell, Ph.D.
Professor, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Chair for Glaucoma Research
Applies genetics and genomics approaches to study age-related neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and glaucoma.
In the Howell lab, we apply genetics and genomics approaches to identify fundamental processes involved in the initiation and early propagation of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on Alzheimer's disease, non-Alzheimer's dementia and glaucoma. Understanding these processes provides the greatest opportunity of therapeutic intervention. We are particularly interested in the role of non-neuronal cells including astrocytes, monocyte-derived cells (such as microglia), endothelial cells and pericytes.
In previous work, I applied novel genomics and bioinformatics strategies to identify new molecular stages of glaucoma that preceded morphological changes. Genetic knockout and/or pharmaceutical approaches showed that targeting the complement cascade and endothelin system significantly lessened glaucomatous neurodegeneration in mice. Our work with glaucoma continues in collaboration with Dr. Simon John, and we are also now applying similar genetics and genomics strategies to understand initiating and early stages of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and other dementias. A major aim is to combine knowledge from human genetic studies with the strengths of mouse genetics to develop new and improved mouse models for dementias and make them readily available to scientific community.
Gareth Howell at University of Maine
Education and experience
Education
The Sanger Institute
Ph.D., comparative genome mapping
2002
University of Manchester
B.Sc., molecular biology
1993
Experience
The Jackson Laboratory
Assistant Professor
2012-present
The Jackson Laboratory
Research Scientist
2005-2010
The University of Sheffield, Sheffield
Postdoctoral Fellow, Wilson/Placzek Lab
2005
The Jackson Laboratory
Postdoctoral Fellow, Schimenti Lab
2003-2004
The Sanger Institute
Project Leader of Experimental Gene Annotation Group
2000-2002
The Sanger Institute
Research Assistant in the X Chromosome Mapping Group
1993-2000
Grants, Honors, and Accomplishments
The Schaffer Prize for Innovative Research
Glaucoma Research Foundation
2013
Barbara and Joseph Cohen Young Investigator Award
2007
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Research HighlightJanuary 04, 2024Mouse strains mirror variable human cognitive decline with aging
Erik Bloss, Gareth Howell and predoctoral associate Sarah Heuer are examining the effects of aging in mouse neurons and synapses. -
Featured ArticleJuly 06, 2022Donors contribute more than $7.6M to vision research at JAX
JAX has recently received more than $7.6 million in philanthropic investment to support vision research. -
Research HighlightApril 20, 2022Investigating the genetics of Alzheimer's with new disease models
MODEL-AD is working to develop and make accessible mouse models useful for Alzheimer's disease and dementia research. -
Press ReleaseApril 13, 2021Alzheimers Association awards research grant to JAX scientists
The Alzheimer's Association awarded a grant to Jackson Laboratory researchers, Gareth Howell, Ph.D. and Kristen Onos, Ph.D., for their work deciphering microglial responses to amyloid and tau with wild-derived mice.
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Research HighlightSeptember 27, 2023Exploring how genetics affects Alzheimer's disease
A research team led by Assistant Professor Erik Bloss and Professor Gareth Howell, and including predoctoral associate Sarah Heuer, explores how different genetic contexts affect the impact of early-stage Alzheimer's disease on neuronal circuits. -
Research HighlightJune 30, 2022The connection between APOE, exercise and Alzheimer's disease
A research team led by Professor Gareth Howell, Ph.D., and Kate Foley, Ph.D., a former graduate student in his lab, used mice to investigate just how exercise, in this case running, affects many traits associated with Alzheimer’s disease in their brains and their bodies. -
Search MagazineOctober 26, 2021Reshaping brain cells for Alzheimer's study
By isolating and reprogramming brain cells with dementia-causing genetic mutations, a team at JAX offers a powerful new research tool. -
Research HighlightFebruary 09, 2021Alzheimer’s disease, microglia and genetic diversity
Natural genetic variation determines microglia heterogeneity in wild-derived mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease.