Kelsey Krus

Program: Neurosciences

Current advisor: Aaron DiAntonio, MD, PhD

Undergraduate university: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

Research summary
My current research focuses on the effects of STMN2 depletion on the nervous system. STMN2 mRNA is regulated by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis associated protein, TDP-43, and is depleted in patient spinal cords. Furthermore, our lab has shown that STMN2 acts as an axon protective factor delaying axon degeneration after injury. Most studies thus far have been conducted in cultured neurons or postmortem patient samples. To better understand the effects of STMN2 depletion on the nervous system in vivo, we have created a STMN2 knockout mouse. We will study the effects on function through behavioral assays and structure through anatomical analysis. Additionally, we will use this mouse model and primary cultured neurons to study the downstream mechanism of STMN2 loss on axon degeneration pathways.

Graduate publications
Krus KL, Strickland A, Yamada Y, Devault L, Schmidt RE, Bloom AJ, Milbrandt J, DiAntonio A. 2022 Loss of Stathmin-2, a hallmark of TDP-43-associated ALS, causes motor neuropathy. Cell Rep, 39(13):111001.

Salles A, Awad M, Goldin L, Krus K, Lee JV, Schwabe MT, Lai CK. 2019 Estimating Implicit and Explicit Gender Bias Among Health Care Professionals and Surgeons. JAMA Netw Open, 2(7):e196545.