Dr. Adrian Oblak is a neuroscientist and translational research leader dedicated to understanding the structural and immune-driven mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease. She joined the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2010 and now holds multiple leadership positions, reflecting her broad impact across research, education, and scientific strategy.

Dr. Oblak serves as the Scientific Director and Principal Investigator of MODEL-AD, a national NIH-funded initiative that develops and applies advanced animal models for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She also leads neurodegeneration-focused programs as the Director of Neurodegenerative Disorders at the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute and Director of Research Initiatives for the Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders within the IU Health/IU School of Medicine Neuroscience Institute. In addition, she is Co-director of the Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, where she mentors and trains future leaders in neuroscience.

A trained neuroanatomist, Dr. Oblak’s research explores how genetic risk factors — particularly the INPP5D/SHIP1 signaling pathway — and environmental influences like diet shapes Alzheimer’s disease. Her team uses genetically engineered mouse models to study disease progression and rigorously test new therapeutic approaches. She plays a leading role in aligning specific Alzheimer’s disease pathologies with targeted drug strategies, helping to accelerate preclinical therapeutic development through precision modeling.

Her work bridges basic science and translational research, contributing significantly to national consortia such as MODEL-AD, TREAT-AD and NCRAD. Through these collaborations, Dr. Oblak helps guide the future of Alzheimer’s drug discovery and biomarker validation.

Dr. Oblak is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists and supporting interdisciplinary research. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys spending time with family and engaging in community science outreach.

To learn more, visit Dr. Oblak’s profile page at IUSM.