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Benjamin Wolozin, M.D. Ph.D.

Dr. Wolozin’s research investigates the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. His research investigates the mechanisms by which genes cause dementia (Alzheimer’s disease and Frontotemporal Dementia) and movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). The group has recently focused on understanding the role of RNA binding proteins in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on how the regulated protein aggregation of RNA binding proteins contributes pathological aggregation and neuronal dysfunction.  The laboratory uses a variety of models to study disease, including cell culture (primary neurons, iPSCs and cell lines), C. elegans, transgenic mice and pathological human tissues.  The laboratory also uses these approaches for drug discovery seeking to identify novel compounds for therapy and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Wolozin also has experience doing epidemiological research, including studies highlighting the potential value of statins and of angiotensin receptor blockers as therapy for dementia.

Dr. Wolozin graduated magna cum laude from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and did his postdoctoral fellowships at the National Institute of Mental Health.  He joined Loyola University Medical Center in 1996 moved to Boston University in 2004. Dr. Wolozin has received numerous awards for his research including the Donald B. Lindsley Prize, Society for Neuroscience, the A. E. Bennett Award from the Society for Biological Psychiatry, the Zenith Award from the Alzheimer Association, the Graduate Faculty of the Year Award from Loyola University Medical Center and the Collaborator of the Year from Boston University Evans Center.   He has served on numerous editorial boards, and currently chair of the NIH CMND study section.  Dr. Wolozin has published over 140 papers or book chapters, and been awarded 4 patents.

Related Research:

Inhibition of Tau Pathology in Human Neurons Benjamin Wolozin 2017-08-01 Regulation of RNA Translation by MAPT in Alzheimer’s Disease Benjamin Wolozin 2015-10-01 Regulation of Tau Oligomerization by Interaction with TIA-­‐1, a Component of Stress Granules Benjamin Wolozin 2014-07-17

Funded Research

These projects were made possible from Cure Alzheimer's Fund support.

Project Description Researchers Funding
Inhibition of Tau Pathology in Human Neurons 2017

$100,000
Regulation of RNA Translation by MAPT in Alzheimer’s Disease 2015

$100,000
Regulation of Tau Oligomerization by Interaction with TIA-­‐1, a Component of Stress Granules 2014

$100,000

Selected Publications

These published papers resulted from Cure Alzheimer’s Fund support.

Jiang, L., Ash, P. E. A., Maziuk, B. F., Ballance, H. I., Boudeau, S., Abdullatif, A. A., Orlando, M., Petrucelli, L., Ikezu, T., & Wolozin, B. TIA1 regulates the generation and response to toxic tau oligomers, Acta Neuropathologica, February 11, 2019, Read More

Apicco, D. J., Ash, P. E. A., Maziuk, B., LeBlang, C., Medalla, M., Al Abdullatif, A., Ferragud, A., Botelho, E., Ballance, H. I., Dhawan, U., Boudeau, S., Cruz, A. L., Kashy, D., Wong, A., Goldberg, L. R., Yazdani, N., Zhang, C., Ung, C. Y., Tripodis, Y., Kanaan, N. M., Ikezu, T., Cottone, P., Leszyk, J., Li, H., Luebke, J., Bryant, C. D., & Wolozin, B. Reducing the RNA binding protein T1A1 protects against tau-mediated neurodegeneration in vivo, Nature Neuroscience, January 1, 2018, Read More

Maziuk, B. F., Apicco, D. J., Cruz, A. L., Jiang, L., Ash, P. E. A., da Rocha, E. L., Zhang, C., Yu, W. H., Leszyk, J., Abisambra, J. F., Li, H., & Wolozin, B. RNA binding proteins co-localize with small tau inclusions in tauopathy, Acta Neuropathologica, August 1, 2018, Read More

Wolozin, B., & Apicco, D. RNA Binding Proteins and the Genesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, October 30, 2014, Read More

Cruz, A., Verma, M., & Wolozin, B. The Pathophysiology of Tau and Stress Granules in Disease, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, February 25, 2020, Read More

Wolozin, B. Disrupted in Dementia, Biological Psychiatry, October 1, 2018, Read More

Silva, J. M., Rodrigues, S., Sampaio-Marques, B., Gomes, P., Neves-Carvalho, A., Dioli, C., Soares-Cunha, C., Mazuik, B. F., Takashima, A., Ludovico, P., Wolozin, B., Sousa, N., & Sotiropoulos, I. Dysregulation of autophagy and stress granule-related proteins in stress-driven Tau pathology, Cell Death & Differentiation, November 15, 2018, Read More

Vanderweyde, T., Apicco, D. J., Youmans-Kidder, K., Ash, P. E. A., Cook, C., Lummertz da Rocha, E., Jansen-West, K., Frame, A. A., Citro, A., Leszyk, J. D., Ivanov, P., Abisambra, J. F., Steffen, M., Li, H., Petrucelli, L., & Wolozin, B. Interaction of tau with the RNA-Binding Protein TIA1 Regulates tau Pathophysiology and Toxicity, Cell Reports, May 17, 2016, Read More

Apicco, D. J., Zhang, C., Maziuk, B., Jiang, L., Ballance, H. I., Boudeau, S., Ung, C., Li, H., & Wolozin, B. Dysregulation of RNA Splicing in Tauopathies, Cell Reports, December 24, 2019, Read More

Maziuk, B., Ballance, H. I., & Wolozin, B. Dysregulation of RNA Binding Protein Aggregation in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, April 4, 2017, Read More

Russo, A., Scardigli, R., La Regina, F., Murray, M. E., Romano, N., Dickson, D. W., Wolozin, B., Cattaneo, A., & Ceci, M. Increased cytoplasmic TDP-43 reduces global protein synthesis by interacting with RACK1 on polyribosomes, Human Molecular Genetics, April 15, 2017, Read More

Li, D., Wang, L., Maziuk, B. F., Yao, X., Wolozin, B., & Cho, Y. K. Directed evolution of a picomolar-affinity, high-specificity antibody targeting phosphorylated tau, Journal of Biological Chemistry, June 13, 2018, Read More

Ash, P. E. A., Stanford, E. A., Al Abdulatif, A., Ramirez-Cardenas, A., Ballance, H. I., Boudeau, S., Jeh, A., Murithi, J. M., Tripodis, Y., Murphy, G. J., Sherr, D. H., & Wolozin, B. Dioxins and related environmental contaminants increase TDP-43 levels, Molecular Neurodegeneration, May 5, 2017, Read More

Ash, P. E. A., Dhawan, U., Boudeau, S., Lei, S., Carlomagno, Y., Knobel, M., Al Mohanna, L. F. A., Boomhower, S. R., Newland, M. C., Sherr, D. H., & Wolozin, B. Heavy Metal Neurotoxicants Induce ALS-Linked TDP-43 Pathology, Toxicological Sciences, January 1, 2019, Read More

Li, M., Reisman, J., Morris-Eppolito, B., Qian, S. X., Kazis, L. E., Wolozin, B., Goldstein, L. E., & Xia, W. Beneficial Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Statins on the Occurrence of Possible Alzheimer’s Disease After Traumatic Brain Injury, Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, March 27, 2020, Read More

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