Zachary Uttke

Warren Alpert Physician-Scientist MD/PhD and Advanced Training Program

Zachary Uttke

Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Graduate Program

Research Interests Zach is a member of the Frost Lab, where he studies retrotransposon activation in the context of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies using iPSC-derived neurons.

Biography

Zach is an MD/PhD student, currently in the PhD phase as part of the Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry Graduate Program on the Molecular Biology of Aging Track. His research focuses on understanding how the innate immune system is activated in response to transposable element expression in the context of brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. A major goal of his research is to repurpose antiretroviral medications for the treatment of disorders characterized by aberrant transposable element expression. His clinical interest is neurology, and he is originally from Wisconsin.

Publications

Cheng A, Shawa H, Uttke Z, Cotter DG. Can the Pursuit of an Ageless Face Redefine Medicine? Exploring Dermatology's Role in the Quest for Immortality. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2025 Aug;18(8):27-29. PMID: 40843234; PMCID: PMC12367245.

Uttke, Z., Gabriel, O., Smith, C., Guardino, E.T., Mukamal, K., and Djousse, L. (2025). Rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of blueberry consumption versus placebo on brain health in older adults. Contemporary Clinical Trials 107926.

Cusatis, R., Balza, J., Uttke, Z., Kode, V., Suelzer, E., Shaw, B.E., and Flynn, K.E. (2022). Patient-reported cognitive function among hematopoietic stem cell transplant and cellular therapy patients: A scoping review. Quality of Life Research 32, 939–964.