Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner, M.D., Ph.D., wins Mid-Career Award
Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner, M.D., Ph.D.
Research motivated by human resilience
Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner, M.D., Ph.D. (NSCI ’03, I1 ’04, N ’07, NBN ’08), is a Clinician Investigator, enterprise chair of the Department of Neuroscience and the Roy E. & Merle Meyer Professor of Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic. She leads the Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease and Endophenotypes Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Florida, and is a popular mentor and a frequently invited speaker.
Yet, she maintains a busy clinical practice for patients with dementia and cognitive impairment.
“Each of these patients teaches me something unique about human resilience,” she says. “I think about my patient, a music teacher who continues to play piano for others. I think about a young mother with early-onset dementia who continues to go and cheer her young kids at their sports games. And I also think about the 80-year-old grandma who is still able to form a connection with her grandkids long after losing the ability to speak. I’m amazed and humbled to see this human grace and grit.”
These patients teach her and motivate her, she says: “There’s so much to be done in these conditions.”
Dr. Ertekin-Taner’s research is focused on the discovery of molecular disease mechanisms, new treatments and biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (ADRD). By combining multi-omics and deep endophenotypes in large human cohorts and validations in model systems, her research has led to seminal discoveries in the fields of neurodegenerative diseases and precision medicine.
A few examples: She has completed some of the largest published multi-omics studies in human brains and blood for AD/ADRD, uncovered novel disease pathways, nominated hundreds of therapeutic targets, and is developing novel treatments and biomarkers for these conditions. She has served as principal investigator on 38 grants with total extramural grant support of over $80 million since 2008. She has over 220 publications with nearly 20,000 citations.
As a clinician and scientist, Dr. Ertekin-Taner has the expertise to counsel and manage her patients and their families according to the most up-to-date clinical trials and practices related to genetic testing, biomarkers in AD/ADRD and neuroimaging. She also attends caregiver sessions, gives out media interviews, and participates in workshops, webcasts and seminars to disseminate clinical and scientific knowledge to caregiver families and the public.
Dr. Ertekin-Taner is a sought-after mentor, as evidenced by over 80 clinical and research mentees ranging from high school students to junior faculty. Many of her trainees come to her lab without any prior research experience and are subsequently accepted to highly competitive postgraduate programs.
As enterprise chair for the Department of Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic, she oversees its 30 research laboratories, nearly 300 staff and over 80 Ph.D. students across the organization. She has also served on many advisory boards and committees, including a select committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine requested by the U.S. Congress to provide research recommendations for the treatment and prevention of dementia. She is also frequently invited by prestigious academic institutions to give presentations as a visiting professor.
Her many awards include the 2018 Mayo Clinic Florida Investigator of the Year and the 2022 Zenith Fellows Award from the Alzheimer’s Association, considered to be one of the most prestigious awards in Alzheimer’s disease research worldwide.
“Dr. Ertekin-Taner is a servant and transformative leader, who has the ability to engage and energize diverse groups to tackle complex challenges,” says Vesna Garovic, M.D., Ph.D. (NEPH ’99), chair of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Dr. Garovic is also the Penske Foundation Professor of Clinical Medicine in Honor of Ian D. Hay, M.D., Ph.D., and J. Eileen Hay, M.B., Ch.B.
The Early and Mid-Career Alumni Awards recognize Mayo Clinic alumni who have made robust contributions to their areas of expertise in the realms of education, clinical practice, clinical and scientific research, and administration. Beyond their professional output, they demonstrate selfless community service and have consistently acted in a manner that is aligned with Mayo Clinic values. Read about the other 2024 recipients here.
Illustrations by Nigel Buchanan.