Gustavo’s successful Masters defense!

Congratulations to Gustavo Barroso Machado for successfully defending his Masters thesis entitled, “Investigation of the role of the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor in memory consolidation in gonadectomized male mice”!  This is Gustavo’s second Masters degree, having previously earned both his M.Sc. and M.D. at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.  Sadly, Gustavo is leaving the program this fall to return to clinical practice in the U.S., but we are delighted to have had him in the lab these past 2 years and know that his future patients will be lucky to have him as their physician!

 

New Frick lab R01 grant!

Dr. Frick was recently awarded a new 5-year R01 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disease to study how estrogenic regulates protein degradation in the hippocampus and the role that protein degradation plays in estrogenic modulation of memory and CA1 dendritic spine density (R01NS128123, “Estrogenic regulation of the hippocampal ubiquitin-proteasome system and its role in memory and structural plasticity”). We’re very excited about this project, which includes a collaboration with UWM alum Dr. Tim Jarome of Virginia Tech!

Sarah Beamish wins Sigma Xi award!

Graduate student Sarah Beamish is the lab’s latest recipient of a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research. Sarah’s project, “Determining the extent to which 17β-estradiol regulates protein degradation in an activity-dependent manner to enhance hippocampal memory formation in ovariectomized female mice” will fund experiments included in her dissertation. Congratulations Sarah!!

New UWM STAR Program!

Dr. Frick is the Contact PI and Co-Director of the new UWM Success Through Aging Research (STAR) program, funded by a 5-year grant from the National Institute on Aging. This exciting program will provide research, educational, and career development opportunities for BIPOC, first-generation, and economically disadvantaged undergraduates in the fields of aging and health disparities in the hopes of diversifying the workforce in aging research and gerontology, and improving health outcomes for diverse older Americans. For more information and to apply, visit the UWM STAR website.

 

Dr. Frick on FemTech Focus podcast

Dr. Frick was recently interviewed by the FemTech Focus podcast about estrogens and memory, menopause, Alzheimer’s disease, and her company Estrigenix Therapeutic’s efforts to develop novel treatments to alleviate menopausal hot flashes and memory loss. Listen to episode 208 here.

Rest In Peace Dr. Mary Jo LaDu

Frick lab collaborator and friend Dr. Mary Jo LaDu of the University of Illinois at Chicago passed away unexpectedly in March 2023. Dr. LaDu was a leader in lipid biology whose contributions to understanding how APOE genotype influences women’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease will have a lasting impact on the field. We are devastated by her loss and will miss our friend and colleague. Obituaries for Mj can be found here and here.