Hello,

I’m a senior research associate in the laboratory of Fred H. Gage at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. My work contributes to our understanding of the cellular mechanisms of aging and the contributions of aging to cognitive decline. I am particularly interested in DNA damage and cellular metabolism.

I am an innovative problem solver with a multidisciplinary molecular biology skill set. I have expert knowledge in genetic engineering (CRISPR/Cas9), stem cell culture, human dermal fibroblast derivation, transdifferentiation, organoids, human neural development, & disease modeling.

I have developed and optimized next generation sequencing techniques and have the bioinformatics skills to work with large data in bash, python, and R.

I served as Interim Director of Salk’s Stem Cell Core from 10/1/2021 until 9/1/2022.

Consultant for hire.

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Publications

Link to my ORCiD profile

  1.     Jones JR, Reid DA, Schlachetzki JCM, Nitulescu II, Tsui EC, Heard K, Pinto AM, Linker S, Ricciarduli AS, Schafer ST, Hah N, Glass CK, Gage FH. Direct conversion of aged and AD patient fibroblasts to neurons reveals metabolic changes resulting in DNA damage. In preparation 2023.

  2. Minhas PS*, Latif-Hernandez A*, Jones JR*, Heard K, Gage FH, Andreasson K. Metabolic inhibition reverses cognitive loss and hippocampal hypometabolism in models of Alzheimer’s disease by enhancing astrocytic metabolic support of neuron. In preparation 2023. * indicates co-first authors.

  3. Traxler L, Lucciola R, Herdy J, Jones JR, Mertens J, Gage FH. Neural cell state shifts and fate loss in aging and age-related diseases. Nature Reviews Neurology, 2023.

  4. Reid DA, Reed PJ, Schlachetzki JCM, Nitulescu II, Chou G, Tsui EC, Jones JR, Chandran S, Lu AT, McClain CA, Ooi JH, Wang TW, Lana AJ, Linker S, Ricciarduli AS, Lau S, Schafer ST, Horvath S, Dixon JR, Hah N, Glass CK, Gage FH. Incorporation of nucleoside analog maps genome repair sites in postmitotic human neurons. Science 2021.

  5. Vadodaria KC, Jones JR, Linker S, Gage FH. Modeling Brain Disorders Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology 2019.

  6. Jones JR, Kong, LH,, Hanna IV, Michael G, Hoffman B, Krencik R, Bradley R, Hagemann T, Choi J, Doers M, Dubovis M, Sherafat A, Bhattacharyya A, Kendziorski C, Audhya A, Messing A, Zhang SC. Mutations in GFAP Disrupt the Distribution and Function of Organelles in Human Astrocytes. Cell Reports 2018.

  7. Wang L, Xia J, Li J, Hagemann T, Jones JR, Fraenkel E, Weitz D, Zhang SC, Messing A, Feany M. Tissue and cellular rigidity and mechanosensitive signaling activation in Alexander disease Nat Comm. 2018.

  8.   Jones JR,  Zhang SC. Engineering human cells and tissues through pluripotent stem cells. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2016; 40:133-138.

  9. Lu J, Zhong X, Liu H, Huang CT, Sherafat MA, Jones J, Ayala M, Li L, Zhang SC. Generation of serotonin neurons from human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Biotechnol. 2016; 34(1):89-94.

  10. Jones, JR.; Lebar, MD.; Jinwal, UK.; Abisambra, JF.; Koren, J 3rd.; Blair, L.; O'Leary, JC.; Davey, Z.; Trotter, J.; Johnson, AG.; Weeber, E.; Eckman, CB.; Baker, BJ.; Dickey, CA.  The Diarylheptanoid (+)-aR,11S-Myricanol and two flavones from Bayberry (Myrica cerifera) destabilize the microtubule-associated protein tau. J Nat Prod. 2011; 74(1):38-44.

  11. Bradley RA, Shireman J, McFalls C, Choi J, Canfield SG, Dong Y, Liu K, Lisota B, Jones JR, Petersen A, Bhattacharya A, Palecek SP, Shusta EV, Kendziorski C, Zhang SC. Regionally Specified Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Astrocytes Exhibit Different Molecular Signatures and Functional Properties. Development 2019.

  12. Abisambra JF, Blair LJ, Hill SE, Jones JR, Kraft C, Rogers J, Koren J 3rd, Jinwal UK, Lawson L, Johnson AG, Wilcock D, O'Leary JC, Jansen-West K, Muschol M, Golde TE, Weeber EJ, Banko J, Dickey CA. Phosphorylation dynamics regulate Hsp27-mediated rescue of neuronal plasticity deficits in tau transgenic mice. J Neurosci. 2010;30(46):15374-82.

  13. O'Leary JC 3rd, Li Q, Marinec P, Blair LJ, Congdon EE, Johnson AG, Jinwal UK, Koren J 3rd, Jones JR, Kraft C, Peters M, Abisambra JF, Duff KE, Weeber EJ, Gestwicki JE, Dickey CA. Phenothiazine-mediated rescue of cognition in tau transgenic mice requires neuroprotection and reduced soluble tau burden. Mol Neurodegener. 2010; 1;5:45.

  14. Koren J 3rd, Jinwal UK, Lee DC, Jones JR, Shults CL, Johnson AG, Anderson LJ, Dickey CA. Chaperone Signalling Complexes in Alzheimer’s disease. J Cell Mol Med 2009;13(4):619-30.

  15. Koren J 3rd, Jinwal UK, Jin Y, O'Leary J, Jones JR, Johnson AG, Blair LJ, Abisambra JF, Chang L, Miyata Y, Cheng AM, Guo J, Cheng JQ, Gestwicki JE, Dickey CA. Facilitating Akt clearance via manipulation of Hsp70 activity and levels. J Biol Chem. 2010; 22;285(4):2498-2505.