Leadership
Sterling Johnson
Credentials: PhD
Pronouns: he/him/his
Dr. Johnson is a clinical neuropsychologist who leads the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP). He is also the associate director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute(WAI), associate director and Biomarker Core leader in the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), and lead principal investigator for the ADRC Consortium for Clarity in ADRD Research Through Imaging (CLARiTI). In 2022, he was awarded the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship.
Henrik Zetterberg
Credentials: MD, PhD
Pronouns: he/him/his
Dr. Zetterberg is a professor of neurochemistry and head of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry at the University of Gothenburg, a consultant in clinical chemistry at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and a visiting professor at UW−Madison and at University College London. He has received the Erik K. Fernström Prize for Junior Scientists, the Inga Sandeborg Prize for Research on Alzheimer’s disease and the 2024 Goodes Prize. Dr. Zetterberg currently focuses on the development of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s and related dementias and the development of diagnostic tests and new monitoring tools for the diseases.
Manager
Beckie Jeffers
Credentials: BS
Position title: Biofluid Manager
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Beckie has her BS in Biology, 12 years experience as a vet tech and 15 years wet lab experience in clinical cytogenetics. She has been with the AD program here since 2020. Beckie is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day functions of the ADRC Biomarker Lab and is the supervisor of the lab team.
Scientist
Rachael Wilson
Credentials: PhD
Position title: Fluid Biomarker Scientist
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Rachael received her PhD in analytical chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh, then worked as an analytical development scientist at a pharmaceutical company for 3 years before joining the ADRC Biomarker Lab in 2022.
Rachael is responsible overseeing biomarker assay projects.
Lead Coordinator
Monica VandenLangenberg
Credentials: BS
Position title: Biofluid Lead Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Monica has a BS in Biology from Calvin University. Prior to the ADRC Biomarker Lab, Monica was involved in wildlife research, blood processing, lab animal research, and study coordination.
Monica is involved with preparing for and managing samples from participant study visits. She also manages the lab sample archive software, monitors equipment, and directs the lab’s student employees.
Coordinators
Aaron Fredericks
Credentials: BS
Position title: Biofluid Coordinator
Pronouns: he/they/them
Aaron has a BS in Biology from UW-Eau Claire. They previously worked on a clinical research unit for 2 years processing biofluid samples before joining this team at the end of 2023.
Aaron is one of the techs that preps and runs samples on the analyzers. They are also involved with freezer and sample management.
Cindy Jensen
Credentials: BS
Position title: Biofluid Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Cindy has a BS in Biology and has 7 years of laboratory experience in both veterinary hospital and blood center settings, as well as 10 years regulatory experience for international medical manufacturers.
Her work is primarily centered on the coordination of pre/post participant visit activities relating to biofluid sample accession and storage. Cindy is one of the techs that preps and runs samples on the analyzers. She has been with the ADRC Biomarker Lab since early 2023.
Martie Marshall
Credentials: BA
Position title: Biofluid Coordinator
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Martie grew up in Madison and moved to Milwaukee after finishing high school, where they got a BA in Biology from UW-Milwaukee and worked as a veterinary assistant for several years. They later returned to Madison and have been in their current position since 2022.
Martie prepares supplies for upcoming blood and CSF collections and handles sample cataloging and shipping. Martie is one of the techs that preps and runs samples on the analyzers. They also perform brain donations for the WADRC’s Brain Donor Program.