David G. Morgan, PhD

• MSU Research Foundation Professor of Translational Neuroscience

• Department of Translational Neuroscience
• Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

• Grand Rapids Research Center
• 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• Phone: 616.234.2846
• Fax: 616.234.0991
• david.morgan@hc.msu.edu

Biography

Dr. Morgan’s doctoral research at Northwestern University investigated the neurochemistry of memory with Aryeh Routtenberg. Some of this work was published in Science. Dr. Morgan’s postdoctoral studies addressed aging-related changes in rodent and human brain in the laboratory of Caleb “Tuck” Finch at the University of Southern California. Morgan became a faculty member at the USC in 1986 where his research projects focused on astrocytes and microglia in aged brain, including Alzheimer's tissues (published in Neuron). Dr. Morgan moved to the University of South Florida in 1992, where he participated in generating the APP+PS1 transgenic mouse model of amyloid deposition (published in Nature Medicine). The Morgan-Gordon Lab at USF was the first to show that immunotherapy against the amyloid peptide rescued the memory deficits in APP mouse models (published in Nature). We also found that immunotherapy could produce a side effect, that was subsequently seen in human cases, called ARIA (microhemorrhage). In 2009 Morgan became CEO/Executive Director of the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute at USF where he developed programs in Community-Based Memory Screening, the multispecialty Center for Memory C.A.R.E., and established a mobile clinical trials unit to promote clinical research participation at retirement centers. In 2017 he relocated to Michigan State University in Grand Rapids. He is presently an MSU Research Foundation Professor and Director of the College of Human Medicine Alzheimer’s Alliance. Dr. Morgan has over 230 peer-reviewed publications and has been continuously funded from NIH since 1989 with over 100 grant-years of support. Morgan served for 6 years (2013-2019) on the Program Committee for the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, the last 3 years as Chairperson.

• Morgan Lab
• Dr. Morgan's Pub Med publications

Education

Research Interests

Dr. Morgan’s research interests are aging and brain function, focusing on developing and testing treatments for Alzheimer’s dementia. A major therapeutic approach for his team is modifying innate immune system activity to slow or prevent neurodegeneration. Towards this end the Morgan-Gordon lab has tested immunotherapy, gene therapy, and small molecule approaches in both mouse models of amyloidosis, and mouse models of tauopathy. Most recently the Morgan-Gordon lab has developed an amyloid enhanced tauopathy mouse model, that initially develops amyloidosis and subsequently results in tau pathology and memory deficits, mimicking the sequence of pathologies in Alzheimer patients (published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia).

Technical Expertise

• Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease
• Learning and Memory in Mice
• Neurochemistry
• Quantitative Immunohistochemistry
• ELISA Assays of Neural Proteins
• Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease
• Clinical Trial Design in Alzheimer's Disease
• Memory Screening in Older Adults