Print This Post
Professor Melissa Murray
Name:
Professor Melissa E. Murray
Job title:
Professor in the Department of Neuroscience with a joint Consultant appointment in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Place of work / study:
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Area of Research:
My research centers on uncovering why changes in the tau protein look differently from person to person. I study brain tissue and biological markers (biomarkers) to better understand disease mechanisms and to advance more precise diagnosis toward ultimately preventing these devastating diseases.
How is your work funded:
My research on MAPT mutation carriers is funded by Rainwater Charitable Foundation for innovative, data-driven approaches to studying tau pathology. Modernization efforts for the brain bank is funded through the Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. My research focused on Alzheimer’s disease is funded by the National Institute on Aging through multiple R01, RF1, U01, P30, and U19 grants.
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a translational neuropathologist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, where I lead a lab dedicated to preventing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and serve as Co Director of the Mayo Clinic brain bank.
My research focuses on understanding why tau mediated diseases affect individuals differently, with particular emphasis on where disease occurs in the brain and why young onset forms often follow a more aggressive course. My work integrates digital pathology, neuroimaging, and blood based biomarkers to better define the variability in tau changes in Alzheimer’s disease and primary tauopathy brains.
I am especially passionate about transformative neuropathology that combines descriptive studies with artificial intelligence to make disease measurement more objective, scalable, and clinically meaningful. I am committed to bridging rigorous brain based science with clinical care so that discoveries at the microscope translate into real impact for patients and families.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I had barely even sent an email before entering college and now am advancing science using fancy computational approaches alongside my incredible team.
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
My grandmother’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease profoundly shaped my path. I had already begun studying neurodegeneration when she started to decline, but helping care for her and later losing her during graduate school transformed my academic interest into a life mission. Through brain donation, she became part of our research program and has been included in nearly every study I’ve conducted. In many ways, she remains one of my greatest inspirations and a constant reminder of why this work matters.
What single piece of advise would you give to an early career researcher?
Anchor yourself to your “why.” Science is demanding, and there will be seasons that test your confidence. When your motivation is deeply personal and values-driven, it sustains you through those moments.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
The Black Witch by Laurie Forest
Favourite film of all time?
Ever After
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
Audio books, movies, lovely glass of red wine with friends
What’s the best decision you ever made?
To switch from sculpting to Biology 2 in my first year of university
What’s your favourite vacation spot?
Staycation, I forget that weekends are meant for relaxing
Do you collect anything?
Not anymore, I used to love collecting magnets on my adventures
Ajantha Abey
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali