Christina Coughlan, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Neurology

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Graduate Schools :
  • MSCS, University of Colorado Denver (2018)
  • BA/BS, University College Dublin (1990)
  • PhD, University College Dublin (1995)
Fellowships:
  • University of Pennsylvania Program, Molecular Genetic (2000)
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Cell Biology (2003)
Languages: English, Gaelic, French
Department: Neurology

Professional Titles

  • Senior Faculty Research Instructor

Recognition & Awards

  • Nominated for Faculty of the Year award, Community College of Aurora (2017)
    I was very honored to be nominated for a Faculty of the Year award while adjunct teaching Microbiology at the Community College of Aurora.
  • Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, University of Denver. Pioneer Ambassadors, student organization (2007)
    I was totally humbled and honored to receive this award. Every year the Pioneers at the University of Denver pick 3 Faculty across the campus to receive these awards. I was one of the three

Teaching

  • Professor for Paramedics Saint Anthony's (2018)
    Graduate School, Emergency Medicine
    I teach a bootcamp for Anatomy and Physiology. I also teach the Introductory Basic Pharmacology that includes Receptors, Antagonism, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Dose Calculation and Administration

Publications

  • Colvett I, Saternos H, Coughlan C, Vielle A, Ledreux A. Extracellular vesicles from the CNS play pivotal roles in neuroprotection and neurodegeneration: lessons from in vitro experiments. Extracell Vesicles Circ Nucl Acids. 2023 Mar;4(1):72-89. PubMed PMID: 37859665
  • Thaker AA, McConnell BV, Rogers DM, Carlson NE, Coughlan C, Jensen AM, Lopez-Paniagua D, Holden SK, Pressman PS, Pelak VS, Filley CM, Potter H, Solano DA, Heffernan KS, Bettcher BM. Astrogliosis, neuritic microstructure, and sex effects: GFAP is an indicator of neuritic orientation in women. Brain Behav Immun. 2023 Oct;113:124-135. PubMed PMID: 37394144
  • Fridman V, Sillau S, Ritchie A, Bockhorst J, Coughlan C, Araya P, Espinosa JM, Smith K, Lange EM, Lange LA, Ghormli LE, Drews KL, Zeitler P, Reusch JEB. Plasma neurofilament light chain concentrations are elevated in youth-onset type 2 diabetes and associated with neuropathy. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2023 Sep;28(3):460-470. PubMed PMID: 37341347
  • Impaired Insulin Sensitivity Relates to Preclinical Biomarkers of Neurodegenerative Disease in Young Adults With and Without Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Shapiro, Allison; Coughlan, Christina; Vinovskis, Carissa; Vigers, Timothy B.; Pauley, Meghan E.; Snell-Bergeon, Janet K.; Macdonald, Alexis A.; Tommerdahl, Kalie L.; Van; Raalte, Daniel; De Boer, Ian; Nelson, Robert G.; Pyle, Laura; Nadeau, Kristen J. and Bjornstad, Petter. Diabetes 2023;72(Supplement_1):1159-P. https://doi.org/10.2337/db23-1159-P
  • Preclinical Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology in Young Adults with Youth-Onset Diabetes (YDM)-A Proof-of-Concept Study. Shapiro, A; Coughlan, C; Kim, J; Potter, H; Bjornstad, P; Pauley, ME; Rajic; Truong, J; Glueck, DH; Harrall, KK; Barcus, RA; Tan, J; Bettcher, B; Thaker, A; Walker, KA; Liese, AD; Dabelea, D and Whitlow, CT. Diabetes 2023;72(Supplement_1):187-LB. https://doi.org/10.2337/db23-187-LB
  • Rapid Activation of Neuroinflammation in Stroke: Plasma and Extracellular Vesicles Obtained on a Mobile Stroke Unit. Robert G. Kowalski, Aurélie Ledreux, John E. Violette, Robert T. Neumann, David Ornelas, Xiaoli Yu, Steven G. Griffiths, Scott Lewis, Priscilla Nash, Andrew A. Monte, Christina M. Coughlan, Clayton Deighan, James C. Grotta, William J. Jones and Michael W. Graner. 2023; 54:e52–e57 https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.041422Stroke.
  • Kowalski RG, Ledreux A, Violette JE, Neumann RT, Ornelas D, Yu X, Griffiths SG, Lewis S, Nash P, Monte AA, Coughlan CM, Deighan C, Grotta JC, Jones WJ, Graner MW. Rapid Activation of Neuroinflammation in Stroke: Plasma and Extracellular Vesicles Obtained on a Mobile Stroke Unit. Stroke. 2023 Mar;54(3):e52-e57. PubMed PMID: 36727508
  • Bubak AN, Coughlan C, Posey J, Saviola AJ, Niemeyer CS, Lewis SWR, Lopez SB, Solano A, Tyring SK, Delaney C, Neeves KB, Mahalingam R, Hansen KC, Nagel MA. Zoster-Associated Prothrombotic Plasma Exosomes and Increased Stroke Risk. J Infect Dis. 2023 Apr 18;227(8):993-1001. PubMed PMID: 36200236
  • Phenotype and Neuronal Cytotoxic Function of Glioblastoma Extracellular Vesicles. Wenbo Zhou †, Daniel Lovasz †, Zoë Zizzo †, Qianbin He, Christina Coughlan, Robert G. Kowalski, Peter G. E. Kennedy, Arin N. Graner, Kevin O. Lillehei, D. Ryan Ormond, A. Samy Youssef, Michael W. Graner and Xiaoli Yu. Biomedicines 2022, 10(11), 2718; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10112718
  • Zoster-associated Prothrombotic Plasma Exosomes and Increased Stroke Risk. Bubak AN, Coughlan C, Posey J, Saviola AJ, Niemeyer CS, Lewis SWR, Lopez SB, Solano A, Tyring SK, Delaney C, Neeves KB, Mahalingam R, Hansen KC, Nagel MA.J Infect Dis. 2022 Oct 6;jiac405. Doi. 10.1093/infdis/jiac405.
  • Imipramine and olanzapine block apoE4-catalyzed polymerization of Aß and show evidence of improving Alzheimer’s disease cognition. Johnson, N. R., Wang, A. C. J., Coughlan, C., Sillau, S., Lucero, E., Viltz, L., Markham, N., Allen, C., Dhanasekaran, A. R., Chial, H. J., Potter, H. (2022) Alzheimers Res Ther. 2022 Jun 29;14(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s13195-022-01020-9.PMID: 35768831
  • Associations of circulating insulin-growth factor-1 (IGF-1) with cognitive functions and quality of life domains in ambulatory young adults with Cerebral Palsy: a pilot study. Ted Kheng Siang Ng, Patricia C. Heyn, Alex Tagawa, Christina Coughlan and James J. Carollo. Neurology-Rehabilitation. 21st May 2022.
  • The innate immune system stimulating cytokine GM-CSF improves learning/memory and interneuron and astrocyte brain pathology in Dp16 Down syndrome mice and improves learning/memory in wild-type mice. Ahmed M. M., Wang A. C., Elos, M., Chial H. J., Sillau, S., Solano, D. A., Coughlan, C., Aghili, L., Anton, P., Markham, N., Adame, V., Gardiner, K. J., Boyd, T. D., Potter. H. Neurobiol Dis. 2022 Jun 15;168:105694. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105694. Epub 2022 Mar 18. PMID: 35307513; PMCID: PMC9045510.
  • Proteasome activity modulates amyloid toxicity. Galvin J, Curran E, Arteaga F, Goossens A, Aubuchon-Endsley N, McMurray MA, Moore J, Hansen KC, Chial HJ, Potter H, Brodsky JL, Coughlan CM. FEMS Yeast Res. 2022 Mar 9;22(1):foac004. doi: 10.1093/femsyr/foac004.PMID: 35150241
  • Density analysis of Enterovirus D68 shows viral 1 particles can associate with exosomes. Michael J. Rudy, Christina Coughlan, Alison M Hixon, Penny Clarke, Kenneth L Tyler Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Feb 23;10(1):e0245221. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02452-21. Epub 2022 Feb 16.PMID: 35170992
  • IGF1 deficiency integrates stunted growth and neurodegeneration in Down syndrome. Paula Araya, Kohl T. Kinning, Christina Coughlan, Jessica R. Shaw, Keith P. Smith, Ross E. Granrath, Belinda A. Enriquez-Estrada, Kayleigh Worek, Kelly D. Sullivan, Angela L. Rachubinski, Matthew D. Galbraith, Huntington Potter and Joaquin M. Espinosa. Cell Reports. Dec 2022.
  • Potter, H., Woodcock, J.H., Boyd, T.D. Coughlan, C.M., O’Shaughnessy, J.R., Borges, M.T., Thaker, A.A., Raj, B.A., Adamszuk, K., Scott, D., Adame, V., Chial., H.J., Gray, H., Daniels, J., Stocker, M.E., Sillau, S.H. Safety and Efficacy of Sargramostim in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions (2021), In Press.
  • Drusen proteins are released in association with exosomes. Miguel Flores-Bellver, Cui Shi, Jason Mighty, Silvia Aparicio-Domingo, Jing Zhou, Kang Li, Hannah Cobb, German Michelis, Patricia S Becerra, Andrew E Goodspeed, Søren Heissel, Christina Coughlan, Stephen Redenti and Maria Valeria Canto-Soler. Submitted 01-07-2021 to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc. (ARVO).
  • Potter H, Woodcock JH, Boyd TD, Coughlan CM, O'Shaughnessy JR, Borges MT, Thaker AA, Raj BA, Adamszuk K, Scott D, Adame V, Anton P, Chial HJ, Gray H, Daniels J, Stocker ME, Sillau SH. Safety and efficacy of sargramostim (GM-CSF) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2021;7(1):e12158. PubMed PMID: 33778150
  • Bubak AN, Beseler C, Como CN, Coughlan CM, Johnson NR, Hassell JE, Burnet AM, Mescher T, Schmid DS, Coleman C, Mahalingam R, Cohrs RJ, Boyd TD, Potter H, Shilleh AH, Russ HA, Nagel MA. Amylin, Aß42, and Amyloid in Varicella Zoster Virus Vasculopathy Cerebrospinal Fluid and Infected Vascular Cells. J Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 8;223(7):1284-1294. PubMed PMID: 32809013
  • Small molecule inhibitors of apolipoprotein E4-catalyzed amyloid-ß fibrillization as novel therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease. Johnson NR, Wang A, Coughlan CM, Lucero E, Viltz L, Aghili L, Allen C, Markham N, Chial H, Potter H. Journal of Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2020 Abstract. In press. Forthcoming
  • Christina, Coughlan, *Jared Lindenberger, *Jeffrey, Jacot, Noah, Johnson, Paige, Anton, Shaun Bevers, Michael Graner and Huntington, Potter. Binding of Monomeric and Polymeric Alzheimer’s A? peptides to Exosomes. bioRxiv 2021.08.06.455470.doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.06.455470
  • Ted Kheng Siang Ng, Christina Coughlan, Patricia C. Heyn, Alex Tagawa, James J. Carollo, Ee Heok Kua & Rathi Mahendran. Increased plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a biomarker for and compensatory mechanism in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A case-control study. Aging
  • Md. Mahiuddin Ahmed, Noah, Johnson, Timothy Boyd, Christina Coughlan, Heidi Chial and Huntington Potter. Innate Immune System Activation and Neuroinflammation in Down Syndrome and Neurodegeneration: Therapeutic Targets or Partners? Front. Aging Neurosci., 16 September 2021 https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.718426
  • Md. Mahiuddin Ahmed, Athena Ching-Jung Wang, Mihret Elos, Heidi.J. Chial, Stefan Sillau, D. Adriana Solano, Christina Coughlan, Leila Aghili, Paige Anton, Neil Markham, Vanesa Adame, Katheleen J. Gardiner, Timothy D. Boyd, Huntington Potter. Pro-inflammatory GM-CSF Improves Learning/Memory and Brain Pathology in Dp16 Down Syndrome Mice and Improves Learning/Memory in Wild-Type Mice bioRxiv 2021.07.04.451073; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.04.451073
  • NoahR. Johnson, Athena C.J. Wang*, Christina Coughlan*, Stefan Sillau, Esteban Lucero, LisaViltz, Neil Markham, Cody Allen, A. Ranjitha Dhanasekaran, Heidi J. Chial, Huntington Potter. Imipramine and olanzapine block apoE4-catalyzed polymerization of Aß and show evidence of improving Alzheimer’s disease cognition bioRxiv 2021.03.28.437389; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.28.437389
  • Bubak A, Beseler C, Como CN, Coughlan CM, Johnson NR, Hassell RE, Burnet AM, Mescher, Schmid DS, Coleman C, Mahalingam R, Cohrs RJ, Boyd TD, Potter H, Shilleh AH, Russ AH, Nagel MA. Amylin, Ab42, and amyloid in VZV vasculopathy cerebrospinal fluid and infected vascular cells. Journal of Infectious Disease. 2021Apr8;223(7):1284-1294. PMID: 32809013 doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaa513.
  • Brianne M. Bettcher, Kaitlin E. Olson, Nichole E. Carlson, Brice V. McConnell, Tim Boyd, Vanesa Adame, Adriana Solano, Paige Anton, Neil Markham, Ashesh Thaker, Alexandria Jensen, Erika Dallmann, Hunt Potter & Christina Coughlan. Astrogliosis and Episodic Memory in Late Life: Higher GFAP is Related to Worse Memory and White Matter Microstructure in Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurobiology of Aging . DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.02.012
  • Targeting Alzheimer’s disease by inhibiting apolipoprotein E4-catalyzed amyloid-ß fibrillization. Noah R. Johnson, Athena C.-J. Wang† Christina Coughlan† Stefan Sillau1, Esteban Lucero, Lisa Viltz, Neil Markham, Cody Allen, A. Ranjitha Dhanasekaran, Heidi J. Chial and Huntington Potter.
  • Extracellular vesicles released by human retinal pigment epithelium mediate increased polarised secretion of drusen proteins in response to AMD stressors. Miguel Flores-Bellver, Jason Mighty, Silvia Aparicio-Domingo, Kang V. Li, Cui Shi, Jing Zhou, Hannah Cobb, Patrick McGrath, GermanMichelis,Patricia Lenhart, Ganna Bilousova, Soren Heissel, Michael J. Rudy, Christina Coughlan, Andrew E. Goodspeed, S. Patricia Becerra, Stephen Redenti. M and Valeria Canto-Soler. J Extracell. Vesicles. 2021;e12165. https://doi.org/10.1002/jev2.12165
  • Binding of Monomeric and Polymeric Alzheimer’s Ab peptides to Exosomes. Christina, Coughlan, *Jared Lindenberger, *Jeffrey, Jacot, Noah, Johnson, Paige, Anton, Shaun Bevers, Michael Graner and Huntington, Potter. bioRxiv 2021.08.06.455470.doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.06.455470
  • Coughlan, C., Bruce, K.D., Burgy, O., Boyd, T.D., Michel, C.R., Garcia-Perez, J.E., Adame, V., Anton, P., Bettcher, B.M., Chial, H.J., Königshoff, M., Hsieh, E.W.Y., Graner, M., Potter, H. Exosome Isolation by Ultracentrifugation and Precipitation and Techniques for Downstream Analyses. Curr Protoc Cell Biol. (2020) Sep;88(1):e110. doi: 10.1002/cpcb.110. PMID: 32633898.
  • Johnson, N.R, Chin-Jung Wang, A., Coughlan, C., Lucero, E.M., Viltz, L., Allen, C., Markham, N., Chial, H.J., Potter, H. Small molecule inhibitors of apolipoprotein E4-catalyzed amyloid-ß fibrillization as novel therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease (2020), Alzheimer's & Dementia, Volume 16, Issue S2.
  • Amylin, Aß42, and Amyloid in VZV Vasculopathy Cerebrospinal Fluid and Infected Vascular Cells.Bubak AN, Beseler C, Como CN, Coughlan CM, Johnson NR, Hassell JE, Burnet AM, Mescher T, Schmid DS, Coleman C, Mahalingam R, Cohrs RJ, Boyd TD, Potter H, Shilleh AH, Russ HA, Nagel MA. J Infect Dis. 2020 Aug 18:jiaa513. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa513. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32809013
  • Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection of Primary Human Spinal Astrocytes Produces Intracellular Amylin, Amyloid-ß, and an Amyloidogenic Extracellular Environment. Bubak AN, Como CN, Coughlan CM, Johnson NR, Hassell JE, Mescher T, Niemeyer CS, Mahalingam R, Cohrs RJ, Boyd TD, Potter H, Russ HA, Nagel MA.J Infect Dis. 2020 Mar 16;221(7):1088-1097. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiz560.PMID: 31665341
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Practice Locations

UCHealth Neurosciences Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
4th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2080

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Assistant Research Professor, Specialized Training (2017)
  • Nationally Registered Advanced Emergency Medicine Technician (NRAEMT), License (2016)
  • Basic EKG, Certificate (2015)
  • IV, Certificate (2015)
  • Life Coach-Strategic Intervention, Certificate (2015)
  • Fertility Care Practitioner, Certificate (2009)
  • PhD Pharmacology, Other (1995)
  • Bachelors in Science (Hons) Pharmacology and Toxicology, Specialized Training (1990)
Personal Interests
I am Research Scientist who has dedicated my path and career to gaining a better understanding of the underlying molecular pathologies that result in Alzheimer's disease. I am also passionate about Emergency medicine, Teaching, Mentoring, Advising and caring for others. I am a Tony Robbins trained Strategic Intervention (SI) Life coach, a Creighton Fertility Care Practitioner (FCP) and a Nationally Registered Advanced EMT (NRAEMT). I established an LLC in 2015 to serve chronically and acutely ill patients in their homes. I am establishing a new collaboration with Stadium medical to provide much needed care in the Community aswell as a partnership with Truthfullbites, LLC, to provide these same patients services that include food shopping, meal preparation and delivery.

Volunteer Activities
I volunteer with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, helping those in need of the basic requirements of life such as food and a place to live.

Public Speaking
Yes
While at DU I presented my Research work on Alzheimer's disease and Neurodegeneration to donors and caregivers. I have also presented the work we are performing in the Potter lab at International meetings and locally. I am an Adjunct Professor for many campuses and programs, including currently teaching Basic Anatomy and Physiology bootcamp and Introductory Pharmacology to the paramedics at Saint Anthony's.

General Information

Graduate Schools:
  • MSCS, University of Colorado Denver (2018)
  • BA/BS, University College Dublin (1990)
  • PhD, University College Dublin (1995)
Fellowships:
  • University of Pennsylvania Program, Molecular Genetic (2000)
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Cell Biology (2003)
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Languages: English, Gaelic, French
Department: Neurology
Contact Us
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place
Campus Box C290
Aurora, CO 80045

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