Ferris, Heather
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Medicine: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Education
- PhD, Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia
- MD, , University of Virginia
- Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Clinical Fellowship, Endocrinology & Diabetes, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Contact Information
UVA Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, PO Box 801406
MR 4, Room 6012
Charlottesville, VA 22908-1406
Telephone: 434.924.5472
Email: hf4f@virginia.edu
Website: https://med.virginia.edu/endocrinology-metabolism/research/endocrine-investigators/heather-ferris-md-phd/
Research Disciplines
Experimental Pathology, Metabolism, Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Molecular Pharmacology, Neuroimmunology, Neuroscience
Research Interests
Brain metabolism, cognitive decline, insulin signaling and Alzheimer's disease
Research Description
Obesity, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes are all metabolic disorders associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Our lab is interested in understanding how changes in metabolism, either in the brain or in the periphery affecting the brain, influence the risk for dementia.
1. Brain cholesterol- Cholesterol is an important structural molecule, but it also serves as a regulatory molecule in the brain. It is transported between cells by ApoE particles. Mutations in ApoE are one of the main risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. We have demonstrated that cholesterol can regulate cellular behavior by changing the ability of cell surface enzymes to interact with their ligands. For example, increased cholesterol can increase amyloid plaque formation and inflammation. In our current studies, we seek to understand how various cholesterol species can differentially affect neuro-inflammation and the possibility of pharmacologically targeting ApoE cholesterol loading and secretion to reduce the adverse effects of excess cholesterol.
2. Brain insulin signaling- Insulin resistance has been associated with the development of several neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and depression. The brain is much less dependent on insulin signaling for energy metabolism than the periphery. Insulin does, however, play a role in several essential brain functions, including memory, appetite, and reproduction. The type of insulin receptor in the brain and the relative ratio compared to the highly homologous IGF1 receptor and their respective ligands differ substantially from the periphery. We have begun studying a newly identified regulator of insulin and IGF1 receptor signaling, Inceptor.