Marilyn Carter Case Study

I am writing to attest to the work and merit of Dr. Marilyn Carter. Dr. Carter’s research in the field of Neuroscience continues to extend across diseases and from the intimate, scientific workings of the brain to the practical applications of findings. As Dr. Carter’s Ph. D. advisor, I have had the opportunity to see the processes and applications of the research that Dr. Carter has done and is continuing to do. Therefore, I wish to make a statement on her relevancy and importance. First, allow me to provide a summary of my own position in the field of Neuroscience. I am a Professor of Neurosciences and Neurology at Case Western Reserve University in the School of Medicine. I am also the Principal Investigator and Director at the Alzheimer

Carter formed her hypothesis that manipulating ApoE in the brain can lead to Aβ clearance and may slow the progression of AD and possibly cure the disease. With the knowledge that nuclear receptors liver X receptor (LXR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) regulate ApoE expression, Dr. Carter investigated Bexarotene, an RXR agonist. Her research showed that administering Bexarotene to AD mice improved previously impaired memory, cognitive functions, and social behaviors. By choosing to investigate a drug already approved by the FDA for treatment of lymphoma, Dr. Carter proved her efficiency in the field; approval for a new drug would have been much more difficult to obtain when she moved to clinical

Carter’s unique research into AD by fighting not the genetic potential, which accounts for a small portion of patients, but by confronting the variances in ApoE, which account for over half of all AD cases, has provided a basis for developing effective treatment for AD. We published two papers on the topic, one in Neuron concerning the initial findings and one in Science about the pharmacological intervention. Dr. Carter’s work also was discussed in an article found in the Wall Street Journal entitled, “Attack on AD: Cancer Drugs Aid Symptoms.” The work that Dr. Carter has done and continues to do in the field of neurodegenerative diseases can benefit the quality of life for patients and families affected by AD, as well as potentially reduce the healthcare costs in treating those individuals, as discussed by the Wall Street Journal