Samantha Blankers (Graduate Student)
Hey, I’m Sam, a new Master’s student in the Galea lab starting in May 2021. I completed my undergraduate degree in neuroscience at the University of Guelph and became interested in the influence of sex hormones on brain health through my undergraduate thesis work. While I am interested in a diverse range of brain pathologies including stress-related and neurodegenerative disorders, my current research focus is Alzheimer’s disease. I will be exploring the influence of sex and genetics, specifically the APOE4 allele, on cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s. My thesis project will focus on hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroinflammation, as these processes are dysregulated in Alzheimer’s and it has been identified that sex and APOE4 allele(s) influence these processes. Hopefully, this work plays a small part in allowing us to better understand and treat the pathology of Alzheimer’s, a disease that has affected my life and is near to my heart. Aside from the lab, I like to spend my free time outside with friends and dogs :).S