Leadership
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Read More about David A. Wolk, MDDavid A. Wolk, MD
Director
David A. Wolk, MD
Director
Dr. David Wolk is an Associate Professor of Neurology in the Cognitive Neurology Division of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and acting co-director of the Penn Memory Center.
Dr. Wolk completed his medical training at Johns Hopkins University, a Neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania, and clinical Fellowship training in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School where he also completed a post-doctoral research fellowship studying memory in Alzheimer’s Disease. Prior to his return to Penn, he was an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and a member of their Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Dr. Wolk’s research has focused on memory measures and other markers that allow for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). One of the major challenges in the diagnosis of very early Alzheimer’s disease is differentiating the memory failures associated with the normal aging process from those reflecting early AD pathology. As such, his research currently focuses on memory changes in healthy aging, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and AD using Event-Related Potentials (a form of EEG), MRI (including structural and functional measures), and novel psychometric testing. It is hoped that these methods will contribute to early detection and intervention with emerging treatment modalities.
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Read More about Jason Karlawish, MDJason Karlawish, MD
Associate Director
Jason Karlawish, MD
Associate Director
Dr. Jason Karlawish is a Professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and is board-certified in geriatric medicine.
Dr. Karlawish is a Senior Fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, a fellow of the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute on Aging, Director of the Penn Neurodegenerative Disease Ethics and Policy Program, associate director of the Clinical Core and co-associate director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and acting co-director of the Penn Memory Center. In addition, he directs the Penn Prevention Research Center’s Healthy Brain Research Center, a member of the CDC supported Healthy BRAIN Network dedicated to surveillance, education, awareness and empowerment that promotes brain health.
Dr. Karlawish is the project leader of makingsenseofalzheimers.org, a creative space for understanding the past, present and future of Alzheimer’s disease. Produced by the Penn Neurodegenerative Disease Ethics and Policy program and the Outreach, Recruitment and Education Core of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at the University of Pennsylvania; and made possible by a startup grant from MetLife Foundation, the website launched in September 2014. Making Sense of Alzheimer’s is an evolving forum for conversation about the disease. Its collection of ideas captures the many dimensions of Alzheimer’s, through the perspective of caregivers, patients, artists, researchers and clinicians. Utilizing multi-media formats such as slideshows, video, and audio clips, along with written stories, the site explores the changing understanding of what Alzheimer’s is and how it affects our ethics and ideas of personhood.
Dr. Karlawish’s research focuses on neuroethics and policy. He has investigated issues in dementia drug development, informed consent, quality of life, research and treatment decision-making, and voting by persons with dementia. To learn more about his research and scholarship, visit www.jasonkarlawish.com.
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Read More about Edward B. Lee, MD, PhDEdward B. Lee, MD, PhD
Associate Director
Edward B. Lee, MD, PhD
Associate Director
Dr. Lee received his medical degree and doctoral degree in Neuroscience from Penn, followed by clinical training in Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and a practicing neuropathologist in the Division of Neuropathology, as well as co-leader of the U19 Center for Alpha-Synuclein Strains neuropathology core.
His research involves using of advanced molecular, biochemical and histologic techniques to analyze brain tissue in study the molecular pathways associated with neuropathologic inclusions in frontotemporal lobar degeneration, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Trauma-Related Neurodegeneration.
His goals include maintaining a world-class experimental neuropathology laboratory and supporting lab members in our collective mission to increase our understanding of the causes and cures of aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.