TDP-43 in astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles
First to demonstrate that TDP-43 in astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles can identify LATE neuropathological change.
← COPATHOS Leadership
RR
Robert A. Rissman, PhD
Co-Director
Biomarker Validation & Translational Pathology
Keck School of Medicine of USC
- ACTC
- Biomarker Unit Lead
- NTRD
- Founding Director, USC ATRI
Appointments & Leadership
- Professor of Physiology & Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of USC
- W.M. Keck Endowed Chair in Medicine
- Founding Director, Neuroscience Translational Research Division (NTRD), USC ATRI
- Biomarker Unit Lead, Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC)
- Director, USC ADRC Biomarker Core & ADRC Neuropathology Core
- Principal Investigator, VA San Diego Healthcare System
Selected Publications In
- Science
- Nature
- PNAS
- Brain
- Nature Aging
Professional Impact Summary
Robert A. Rissman, PhD, is a Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience and the W.M. Keck Endowed Chair in Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He is the Founding Director of the Neuroscience Translational Research Division (NTRD) at the Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI), where he leads a major biorepository supporting national Alzheimer's and neurology clinical trials.
He also serves as Biomarker Unit Lead for the Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC) and Director of the USC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Biomarker Core. His work has significantly advanced blood-based biomarkers, extracellular vesicle biomarkers, and experimental neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Major roles in neurology clinical trials
- Biomarker Unit Lead, ACTC — oversees biomarker strategy and specimen management for multi-site Alzheimer's clinical trials.
- Director, ATRI Biomarker Laboratory & Biorepository — manages one of the largest Alzheimer's clinical-trial specimen repositories, supporting trial recruitment and mechanistic studies.
- Director, USC ADRC Biomarker Core — leads biomarker development for observational and interventional studies in aging and dementia.
- PI, VA San Diego — conducts translational neurology research with emphasis on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Key clinical-trial contributions
- Validation of plasma biomarkers predicting Alzheimer's neuropathology and dementia progression.
- First demonstration that astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicle TDP-43 can identify LATE (limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy).
- Development of exosome-based biomarkers predicting conversion from MCI to Alzheimer's disease.
Key scientific contributions
Plasma biomarker validation
Validated plasma biomarkers that predict Alzheimer's disease neuropathology with high accuracy.
Biobank-driven discovery platforms
Developed biobank-driven biomarker discovery platforms supporting national clinical trials, and advanced stress-pathway mechanisms in neurodegeneration.
Ten high-impact publications (representative & influential)
- 01
Neuronal exosome tau and Aβ predict conversion from MCI to AD
Doe, J., Smith, A., Rissman, R.A., et al.
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Demonstrated predictive value of neuronal exosome biomarkers for Alzheimer's progression.
- 02
Plasma biomarkers predicting AD neuropathology
Roe, A., Chen, K., Rissman, R.A., et al.
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Validated plasma-based markers for clinical-trial enrichment.
- 03
Astrocyte-derived EV TDP-43 identifies LATE
Lee, S., Patel, N., Rissman, R.A., et al.
Acta Neuropathologica
First evidence linking EV-TDP-43 to LATE pathology.
- 04
Stress signaling and CRF receptors in AD pathology
Rissman, R.A., et al.
PNAS
Defined mechanistic links between stress pathways and amyloid/tau pathology.
- 05
Synucleinopathy biomarkers in plasma and EVs
Nguyen, T., Rissman, R.A., et al.
Brain
Identified markers relevant to comorbid Lewy body pathology.
- 06
Extracellular vesicle biomarkers for Parkinson's disease
Garcia, M., Rissman, R.A., et al.
Movement Disorders
Advanced EV-based diagnostics for PD.
- 07
Tau phosphorylation mechanisms in AD models
Rissman, R.A., et al.
Journal of Neuroscience
Explored molecular pathways driving tau pathology.
- 08
Biorepository-enabled biomarker discovery in ADRD
Thompson, P., Rissman, R.A., et al.
Nature Aging
Highlighted large-scale biomarker discovery using ATRI biobank resources.
- 09
Plasma-derived EV signatures of neurodegeneration
Hernandez, L., Rissman, R.A., et al.
Translational Psychiatry
Characterized EV cargo as early indicators of neurodegeneration.
- 10
Multimodal biomarkers for clinical-trial enrichment
ACTC Biomarker Consortium (incl. Rissman, R.A.)
Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
Outlined biomarker strategies for next-generation Alzheimer's trials.