Julie Moreno
Associate Professor Environmental and Radiological Health SciencesAbout Julie
Dr. Julie Moreno is a neurotoxicologist whose research centers on brain aging and the cellular mechanisms driving neurodegeneration. As an associate professor in the Prion Research Center and associate director of the Brain Research Center, she investigates how misfolded proteins – such as prions and tau – disrupt brain function and contribute to neuronal toxicity in neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases (NPMDs). Her lab focuses on the intersection of brain aging, neuroinflammation, and neurotoxicity, with particular attention to the neuroimmune axis.
Current projects include:
- Understanding cellular vulnerabilities in neurons and glial cells during aging and in diseases such as prion disorders and tauopathies.
- Developing stem cell-based therapies aimed at reducing neuroinflammation and restoring lost neurons in a clinically translatable way.
- Designing multifaceted treatment strategies that combine genetic and small molecule interventions to target key cellular stress responses – like the unfolded protein response (UPR), oxidative stress, and redox imbalance – alongside regenerative cell therapies.
- Investigating the role of environmental exposures – such as neurotoxicants and air pollution – in accelerating brain aging and contributing to neurodegenerative disease risk.
Dr. Moreno’s work integrates toxicology, neuroimmunology, and regenerative medicine to uncover new therapeutic strategies for age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Education
Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, 2009 Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2004Publications
Hay, A. J. D., Popichak, K. A., Mumford, G., Bian, J., Shirley, P., Wolfrath, L., Eggers, M., Nicholson, E. M., Tjalkens, R. B., Zabel, M. D., & Moreno, J. A.* (2025). Microglia-specific NF-?B signaling is a critical regulator of prion-induced glial inflammation and neuronal loss. PLoS Pathogens, 21(6), e1012582. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012582 Threatt, A. N., White, J., Klepper, N., Brier, Z., Dean, L. S., Ibarra, A., Harris, M., Jones, K., Wahl, M. J. L., Barahona, M., Oyewole, E. O., Pauly, M., Moreno, J. A., & Nordgren, T. M. (2024). Aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 modulates pulmonary and neurological inflammation in an IL-22 knock-out organic dust exposure mouse model. Frontiers in Immunology, 15, 1495581. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1495581 Latham, A. S., Geer, C. E., Ackart, D. F., Weninger, K. N., Gross, C. C., Podell, B. K., Basaraba, R. J., & Moreno, J. A.* (2024). Immune cell infiltration and modulation of the blood-brain barrier in a guinea pig model of tuberculosis: Observations without evidence of bacterial dissemination to the brain. PLoS ONE, 19(12), e0307577. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307577 Risen, S. J., Boland, S. W., Sharma, S., Weisman, G. M., Shirley, P. M., Latham, A. S., Hay, A. J. D., Gilberto, V. S., Hines, A. D., Brindley, S., Brown, J. M., McGrath, S., Chatterjee, A., Nagpal, P., & Moreno, J. A.* (2024). Targeting neuroinflammation by pharmacologic downregulation of inflammatory pathways is neuroprotective in protein misfolding disorders. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 15(7), 1533–1547. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00846 Hines, A. D., McGrath, S., Latham, A. S., Kusick, B., Mulligan, L., Richards, M. L., & Moreno, J. A. (2023). Activated gliosis, accumulation of amyloid ß, and hyperphosphorylation of tau in aging canines with and without cognitive decline. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 15, 1128521. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1128521Research Specialty
Modeling neurodegenerative protein misfolding in Alzheimer's and other dementias
Neurotoxicity and brain aging
Neuroinflammation and cellular stress pathways
Neuroprotection and therapeutic interventions