Alison M Goate, DPhil
- PROFESSOR & CHAIR | Genetics and Genomic Sciences
- PROFESSOR | Neuroscience
- PROFESSOR | Neurology
Alison M. Goate, DPhil, is the Jean C. and James W. Crystal Professor of Genomics, Chair of the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Professor of Neuroscience and Neurology, and faculty of the Icahn Genomics Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She has worked on the genetics of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) since 1987, and is the founding director of the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease at Mount Sinai.
Over the last three decades, Dr. Goate has been part of many gene finding teams that have successfully identified disease-causing variants for both AD and FTD. While working at Imperial College in London, she reported the first mutation to cause familial Alzheimer’s disease, and her early studies at Washington University in St. Louis identified a genetic mutation in Colombian families that are now part of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative clinical trial. Her lab was also part of the team that first reported MAPT mutations in FTD.
Dr. Goate is also a leader in the study of late onset AD genetics using integrative genomic approaches to identify novel genetic risk factors. Her work led to the identification of Trem2 as a risk factor for AD and has highlighted the enrichment of AD risk variants in microglial enhancers, regulatory elements in DNA that control gene expression in immune cells of the brain. Dr. Goate is now building upon these insights using genome editing in induced pluripotent stem cells to understand the molecular mechanisms of disease and to develop novel therapeutics.
Dr. Goate has received the Potamkin Award from the American Academy of Neurology, the Khalid Iqbal Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alzheimer’s Association, the Rainwater Prize, and the MetLife Award for herresearch on AD. She was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012, and a fellow of the National Academy of Medicine in 2016.
Visit Dr. Goate's Lab Page here.
Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas
Genetics and Genomic Sciences [GGS], Neuroscience [NEU]Education
BSc, Hons, University of Bristol
DPhil, Linacre College, University of Oxford
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute for Cancer Research
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Neurology, University College London
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, Imperial College
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2020
Keynote Address, Tau 2020, Washington D.C -
2019
Methusalem Lecture, VIB-KU, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven -
2019
Plenary Lecture, 6th Venusberg Meeting on Neuroinflammation (5/9/19) -
2019
DeArmond Lecture American Association of Neuropathologists, Atlanta -
2019
F.E. Bennett Memorial Lectureship, American Neurological Association, St. Louis -
2018
Affiliated Faculty, New York Genome Center (NYGC) -
2016
Elected member of the National Academy of Medicine -
2015
Willard T.C. Johnson Research Professor of Neurogenetics (ISMMS) -
2015
Khalid Iqbal Lifetime Acheivement Award, Alzheimer’s Association -
2015
Blas Frangione Foundation Lecture -
2015
Willard T.C. Johnson Research Professor of Neurogenetics, Professor of Neuroscience, Professor of Neurology, Professor of Genetics & Genomic Sciences -
2015
Director, Ronald Loeb Center for Alzhemier’s Disease -
2015
Associate Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center -
2012
Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science -
2005
Carl & Gerty Cori Faculty Achievement Award -
1994
Senior Investigator Award, Metropolitan Life Foundation -
1994
St. Louis Academy of Science Innovation Award -
1993
Potamkin Prize for Alzheimer's disease research -
1993
Zenith Award, Alzheimer's Association -
1989-
Royal Society University Research Fellow
Research in our laboratory focuses on dementia (Alzheimer's disease & frontotemporal dementia) and addiction (alcohol dependence). In each of these projects our goal is to understand the molecular basis of disease in order to identify novel targets for therapeutic development. We use genetic and genomic approaches to identify susceptibility alleles, this work includes integration of multiple levels of OMICs data with genetic data from genome wide association studies and whole genome/exome sequencing in families multiply affected by disease and in case control cohorts. Through these studies we have demonstrated an enrichment of AD risk variants in microglial enhancers. Interestingly variants within the SPI1 (PU.1) locus, a gene which regulates myeloid cell differentiation, influence risk for AD and for alcoholism, demonstrating the importance of neuroimmune communication in both disorders. We are currently pursuing these observations in cell and animal models with the goal of developing PU.1 inhibitors for treatment of AD. In combination with our genetic studies we use induced pluripotent stem cells in vitro and in vivo to study the mechanisms of risk underlying the AD risk genes. To date we have performed functional studies of APOE, SPI1 and MS4A4A/6A in induced microglia. We also have an extensive program studying the functional consequences of MAPT mutations and haplotypes in tauopathies such as PSP and FTD, using iPSC-derived neurons and organoids.
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Goate during 2022 and/or 2023. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Industry-Sponsored Lectures: MSSM faculty occasionally give lectures at events sponsored by industry, but only if the events are free of any marketing purpose.
- AbbVie Inc.; Mass General Brigham; Texas Methodist Hosptial; Washington University, St. Louis
Other Activities: Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership.
- Columbia University; Indiana University School of Medicine; UK Dementia Research Institute; University of Pennsylvania; Washington University, St. Louis
Royalty Payments:
- Athena Diagnostics, Inc.; Taconic Biosciences, Inc.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.