University of Washington-Seattle Campus · BiologyYoung Lab
Jessica Elaine Young · Seattle, Washington
Research Focus
Dr. Jessica Elaine Young's research lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind Alzheimer's Disease (AD), particularly the roles of genetics and cell type-specific functions in disease progression. Her lab investigates endo-lysosomal dysfunction in human neural cells and how sex-linked genetic factors influence the onset and progression of AD. By utilizing human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and patient-derived tissues, the lab aims to identify potential therapeutic targets for AD and better understand the differential effects of genetics on male and female patients.
Alzheimer's diseaseendo-lysosomal dysfunctiongenetic risk factorshuman iPSC modelsneuroinflammationSORL1cell type-specific functionssex-linked genestherapeutic targetsneuropathology
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of SORL1 in endo-lysosomal dysfunction in neuronal and microglial cells.
AIM 02Assess how sex-linked genes and the APOE4 allele impact neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.
AIM 03Utilize patient-derived hiPSCs to study genetic variations in cell-type specific functions relevant to AD.
AIM 04Explore therapeutic rescue of endosomal trafficking defects using small molecules and genetic methods.
AIM 05Characterize sex differences in Alzheimer's disease pathology using single-nucleus RNA sequencing.
Skills the Lab Values
human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)genetic editingcell differentiationmicroglial assaysneuron synaptic function testingRNA sequencingprotein-protein interaction analysisphagocytosis assaysmolecular biology techniquesimmunohistochemistry
Output against the department
Publications116bottom 41% of dept.605th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.4kbottom 34% of dept.686th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.