John D. Fryer will be talking about his research in this CEMinar. Fryer's laboratory studies the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, focusing on molecular mechanisms of known genetic risk factors. Some of these genetic risk factors are known to be involved in immune system function, likely mediated by the resident immune cells of the brain (microglia). Interestingly, the same populations at risk of Alzheimer's disease are also at high risk of sepsis, a devastating condition that can lead to disability and long-term cognitive dysfunction. Fryer seeks to understand whether these inflammatory pathways converge on individuals to initiate a spiraling cognitive decline. His research team pursues these research avenues with biochemical and molecular techniques, using a variety of mouse genetic models and in vitro system