- Honors B.S. Neuroscience & Psychology, The Ohio State University, 2016
- M.S. Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 2020
RNA editing, TDP-43, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), astrocytes, neurodegenerative disease, pediatric neurology, pediatric movement disorders
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, I attended The Ohio State University for my bachelor's degree as a double major in Neuroscience and Psychology, and received a Master's in Physiology from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. During this time, I conducted research on stress-induced changes to dopaminergic neural circuitry and the neuroimmune system during pregnancy. Following graduation, I worked in the lab of Jaime Imitola, MD (now Vice Chair of Neurology Research at UConn Health) where I found my passion in pursuing translational research as we worked together to study neuroimmune signaling in cerebral organoids and saw patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative conditions in the clinic. I also spent time in clinical research at Nationwide Children's Hospital with the neuromuscular team, where I solidified my desire to pursue an MD/PhD after seeing the impact that physician-scientists were making with gene therapies for children born with deadly conditions like spinal muscular atrophy. Following this, I worked as a senior research associate and lab manager in the lab of Mark Hester, PhD, at the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital where we used cerebral organoids to study neurodevelopmental conditions and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Now as an MD/PhD student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, I am using human cellular and iPSC models of neurodegeneration to study RNA editing and glial cells in neurodegenerative disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Sattler Lab, Barrow Neurological Institute) and I am also performing clinical research diving into gene discovery in pediatric movement disorders (Kruer Lab, Phoenix Children's Hospital, UACOM-Phoenix). I hope to become a physician-scientist specializing in the research and care of children with neurological conditions.
When I'm not studying or in the lab, I can be found trail running the mountain ranges of Phoenix, hiking and rock climbing in Sedona/Flagstaff, cycling, training for triathlons, cooking vegan food, and spending time with my partner and our German Shepherd.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions about the MD/PhD path, the Phoenix program, or anything else!
- Eclipse Biosciences RBP-eCLIP Matching Fund Award 2023
- American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Futures in Neurologic Research Scholarship 2023
- Child Neurology Foundation Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) Summer Research Scholarship 2022
- Graduation with Honors in the Arts & Sciences 2016
- Graduation with Honors Research Distinction in Neuroscience 2016
- Resident Advisor of the Month, NRHH at OSU 2016
- 1st Place, Denman Undergraduate Research Forum 2016
- 2nd Place, Invited Oral Symposium, mGluRs Conference 2015
- Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship 2015
- Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2015
- Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Grant 2015
- Dean’s List, The Ohio State University 2014-2016
- Fair SR, Schwind W, Julian D, Biel A, Ramadesikan S, Westfall J, Miller KE, Kararoudi MN, Hickey SE, Mosher TM, McBride KL, Neinast R, Fitch J, Lee D, White P, Wilson RK, Bedrosian TA, Koboldt DC, Hester ME. (2022) Cerebral Organoids Containing an AUTS2 Missense Variant Model Microcephaly. Brain. Jul 8: Epub ahead of print.
- Chen S, Chang Y, Li L, Acosta D, Morrison C, Wang C, Julian D, Hester ME, Serrano GE, Beach, TG, Ma Q, Fu H. (2021) Spatially resolved transcriptomics reveals unique gene signatures associated with human temporal cortical architecture and Alzheimer’s pathology. BioRxiv
- Fair SR*, Julian D*, Hartlaub AM, Pusuluri ST, Malik G, Summerfield TL, Zhao G, Hester AB, Ackerman IV WE, Hollingsworth EW, Ali M, McElroy CA, Buhimschi IA, Imitola J, Maitre NL, Bedrosian TA, Hester ME. (2020) Electrophysiological maturation of cerebral organoids correlates with dynamic morphological and cellular development. Stem Cell Rep. 15 (4), 855-868. *indicates co-first authorship
- Julian D, Hollingsworth EW, Julian K, Imitola J (2019) Convergence of human cellular models and genetics to study neural stem cell signaling to enhance CNS regeneration and repair. Sem Cell Dev Bio. 95, 84-92.
- Haim A, Julian D, Albin-Brooks C, Brothers HM, Lenz KM, Leuner B (2017) A survey of neuroimmune changes in pregnant and postpartum female rats. Brain Behav Immun. 59: 67-78.
Posters/Presentations:
- Julian DL*, Guo G, Benchoua A, Bourgeron T, Hester ME. “Patient-derived cerebral organoids containing a SHANK3 nonsense mutation show deficits in synaptogenesis”, Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 2022. *(non-presenting author)
- Julian DL, Guo G, Benchoua A, Bourgeron T, Hester ME. “Patient-derived cerebral organoids containing a SHANK3 nonsense mutation show deficits in synaptogenesis”, ASU 3rd Annual Symposium in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, October 2022
- Julian DL. “Patients in a Dish? Exploring Neurodevelopment using Stem Cell Models”, Institute for Genomic Medicine Trainee Day Talk, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. March 2021
- Shah Z, Julian D*, Fair SR, Hester ME. “Modeling the effects of in utero opioid exposure on early human brain development using cerebral organoids” Pediatric Academic Society Meeting, May 2021 *(non-presenting author)
- Julian DL, Hollingsworth EW, Bedrosian TA, Hester ME. “Investigating synaptic pathophysiology in autism spectrum disorder using cerebral organoids containing a SHANK3 nonsense mutation”. Fall Research Retreat, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 2020
- Julian D. “Nutritional Psychiatry: Harnessing the Physiological Effects of Diet on Cognition across the Lifespan to impact Neurological Health” University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, M.S. Degree Capstone Presentation, May 2020
- Julian D. “Microglia and Neuroimmune Alterations within the Peripartum Brain” The Ohio State University, Honors Neuroscience Research Thesis Defense, April 2016
- Julian D, Haim A, Albin-Brooks C, Lenz KM, Leuner B. “Microglia and Neuroimmune Alterations within the Peripartum Brain” Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, The Ohio State University, April 2016
- Julian D, Haim A, Albin-Brooks C, Lenz KM, Leuner B. “Microglia and Neuroimmune Alterations within the Peripartum Brain” Midwest Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Conference - Symposium Speaker, The Ohio State University, November 2015
- Leuner B, Haim A, Albin-Brooks C, Sherer ML, Mills E, Julian D. “Gestational stress effects on the postpartum reward system: implications for mood, motivation, and mothering” Fall Undergraduate Research Forum, The Ohio State University, September 2015
- Julian D, Haim A, Albin-Brooks C, Leuner B. “Disrupted Oxytocin Signaling as a Mechanism for Impaired Caregiving in Postpartum Depression”. Neuroscience Undergraduate Colloquium, The Ohio State University, March 2015
- Julian D, Heisler D, Schaefer K, Kudryashova E, Kudryashov D. “Transglutaminase-catalyzed cross-linking of polyamines to actin”. Biochemistry 1998H Research Day, April 2013