Erik Johnson

Department of Neurology
Assistant Professor

erik.johnson@emory.edu

Emory University
Department of Neurology & Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
615 Michael Street - Whitehead Building Suite 505C

Academic Appointment

Assistant Professor, Neurology, Emory University

Education

Degrees

Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University of Chicago
M.D. from University of Chicago
B.A., Biology; B.A., Chemistry from Augsburg College

Research

Focus

Molecular Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Research is currently focused on developing biofluid protein-based molecular biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases -- with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease -- for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic uses.

Publications

Author Correction: Large-scale network analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid proteome identifies molecular signatures of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
Nat Aging
07/07/2025 Authors: Saloner R; Staffaroni AM; Dammer EB; Johnson ECB; Paolillo EW; Wise A; Heuer HW; Forsberg LK; Lario-Lago A; Webb JD
Proteomic analysis of Down syndrome cerebrospinal fluid compared to late-onset and autosomal dominant Alzheimers disease.
Nat Commun Volume: 16 Page(s): 6003
07/01/2025 Authors: Montoliu-Gaya L; Bian S; Dammer EB; Alcolea D; Sauer M; Mart-Ariza M; Ashton NJ; Belbin O; Fuchs J; Watson CM
Large-scale network analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid proteome identifies molecular signatures of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
Nat Aging Volume: 5 Page(s): 1143 - 1158
06/01/2025 Authors: Saloner R; Staffaroni AM; Dammer EB; Johnson ECB; Paolillo EW; Wise A; Heuer HW; Forsberg LK; Lario-Lago A; Webb JD
The association between pulse wave velocity and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
J Alzheimers Dis Volume: 105 Page(s): 729 - 735
06/01/2025 Authors: Kim H; Kulshreshtha A; Alonso A; Goldstein FC; Johnson EC; Gold ME; Quyyumi AA; Lah JJ
Characterizing and validating 12-month reliable cognitive change in Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease for use in clinical trials.
J Prev Alzheimers Dis Volume: 12 Page(s): 100075
04/01/2025 Authors: Hammers DB; Musema J; Eloyan A; Thangarajah M; Taurone A; La Joie R; Touroutoglou A; Vemuri P; Kramer J; Aisen P
Longitudinal analysis of a dominantly inherited Alzheimer disease mutation carrier protected from dementia.
Nat Med Volume: 31 Page(s): 1267 - 1275
04/01/2025 Authors: Llibre-Guerra JJ; Fernandez MV; Joseph-Mathurin N; Bian S; Carter K; Li Y; Aschenbrenner AJ; Pottier C; Sigurdson W; McDade E
Proteomic Subtyping of Alzheimer's Disease CSF links Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction to Reduced levels of Tau and Synaptic Biomarkers.

03/15/2025 Authors: Bangs MC; Gadhavi J; Carter EK; Ping L; Duong DM; Dammer EB; Wu F; Shantaraman A; Fox EJ; Johnson ECB
Plasma proteins associated with the brain age gap.
Nat Aging Volume: 5 Page(s): 15 - 16
01/01/2025 Authors: Johnson ECB
Author Correction: Serum proteomics reveal APOE-4-dependent and APOE-4-independent protein signatures in Alzheimer's disease.
Nat Aging Volume: 4 Page(s): 1509
10/01/2024 Authors: Frick EA; Emilsson V; Jonmundsson T; Steindorsdottir AE; Johnson ECB; Puerta R; Dammer EB; Shantaraman A; Cano A; Boada M
Serum proteomics reveal APOE-4-dependent and APOE-4-independent protein signatures in Alzheimer's disease.
Nat Aging Volume: 4 Page(s): 1446 - 1464
10/01/2024 Authors: Frick EA; Emilsson V; Jonmundsson T; Steindorsdottir AE; Johnson ECB; Puerta R; Dammer EB; Shantaraman A; Cano A; Boada M
Integrative proteomics identifies a conserved A amyloid responsome, novel plaque proteins, and pathology modifiers in Alzheimer's disease.
Cell Rep Med Volume: 5 Page(s): 101669
08/20/2024 Authors: Levites Y; Dammer EB; Ran Y; Tsering W; Duong D; Abreha M; Gadhavi J; Lolo K; Trejo-Lopez J; Phillips J
Proteomic analysis of Alzheimer's disease cerebrospinal fluid reveals alterations associated with APOE 4 and atomoxetine treatment.
Sci Transl Med Volume: 16 Page(s): eadn3504
06/26/2024 Authors: Dammer EB; Shantaraman A; Ping L; Duong DM; Gerasimov ES; Ravindran SP; Gudmundsdottir V; Frick EA; Gomez GT; Walker KA
Proteomic changes in the human cerebrovasculature in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies linked to peripheral biomarkers in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid.
Alzheimers Dement Volume: 20 Page(s): 4043 - 4065
06/01/2024 Authors: Wojtas AM; Dammer EB; Guo Q; Ping L; Shantaraman A; Duong DM; Yin L; Fox EJ; Seifar F; Lee EB
Large-scale network analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid proteome identifies molecular signatures of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

03/28/2024 Authors: Saloner R; Staffaroni A; Dammer E; Johnson ECB; Paolillo E; Wise A; Heuer H; Forsberg L; Lago AL; Webb J
Heparin-enriched plasma proteome is significantly altered in Alzheimer's Disease.
Res Sq
02/23/2024 Authors: Guo Q; Ping L; Dammer EB; Yin L; Xu K; Shantaraman A; Fox EJ; Golde TE; Johnson ECB; Roberts BR
Systematic proteomics in Autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease reveals decades-early changes of CSF proteins in neuronal death, and immune pathways.
medRxiv
01/13/2024 Authors: Shen Y; Ali M; Timsina J; Wang C; Do A; Western D; Liu M; Gorijala P; Budde J; Liu H
Serum proteomics reveals APOE dependent and independent protein signatures in Alzheimer's disease.

01/09/2024 Authors: Gudmundsdottir V; Frick E; Emilsson V; Jonmundsson T; Steindorsdottir A; Johnson ECB; Puerta R; Dammer E; Shantaraman A; Cano A
A Amyloid Scaffolds the Accumulation of Matrisome and Additional Proteins in Alzheimer's Disease.
bioRxiv
12/07/2023 Authors: Levites Y; Dammer EB; Ran Y; Tsering W; Duong D; Abreha M; Gadhavi J; Lolo K; Trejo-Lopez J; Phillips JL
Serum proteomics reveals APOE dependent and independent protein signatures in Alzheimer's disease.
medRxiv
11/09/2023 Authors: Frick EA; Emilsson V; Jonmundsson T; Steindorsdottir AE; Johnson ECB; Puerta R; Dammer EB; Shantaraman A; Cano A; Boada M
Proteomic Network Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease Cerebrospinal Fluid Reveals Alterations Associated with APOE 4 Genotype and Atomoxetine Treatment.
medRxiv
10/30/2023 Authors: Dammer EB; Shantaraman A; Ping L; Duong DM; Gerasimov ES; Ravindran SP; Gudmundsdottir V; Frick EA; Gomez GT; Walker KA
A protein panel in cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic and predictive assessment of Alzheimer's disease.
Sci Transl Med Volume: 15 Page(s): eadg4122
09/06/2023 Authors: Haque R; Watson CM; Liu J; Carter EK; Duong DM; Lah JJ; Wingo AP; Roberts BR; Johnson ECB; Saykin AJ
Cerebrospinal fluid proteomics define the natural history of autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease.
Nat Med Volume: 29 Page(s): 1979 - 1988
08/01/2023 Authors: Johnson ECB; Bian S; Haque RU; Carter EK; Watson CM; Gordon BA; Ping L; Duong DM; Epstein MP; McDade E
Quantitative proteomics of cerebrospinal fluid from African Americans and Caucasians reveals shared and divergent changes in Alzheimer's disease.
Mol Neurodegener Volume: 18 Page(s): 48
07/19/2023 Authors: Modeste ES; Ping L; Watson CM; Duong DM; Dammer EB; Johnson ECB; Roberts BR; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Seyfried NT
Proteomics of brain, CSF, and plasma identifies molecular signatures for distinguishing sporadic and genetic Alzheimer's disease.
Sci Transl Med Volume: 15 Page(s): eabq5923
07/05/2023 Authors: Sung YJ; Yang C; Norton J; Johnson M; Fagan A; Bateman RJ; Perrin RJ; Morris JC; Farlow MR; Chhatwal JP
Genetic background influences the 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease mouse model brain proteome.
bioRxiv
06/13/2023 Authors: Hurst CD; Dunn AR; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Seyfried NT; Kaczorowski CC; Johnson ECB
Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease.
Sci Data Volume: 10 Page(s): 261
05/09/2023 Authors: Watson CM; Dammer EB; Ping L; Duong DM; Modeste E; Carter EK; Johnson ECB; Levey AI; Lah JJ; Roberts BR
Predictors of Cognitive Decline in Healthy Middle-Aged Individuals with Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease.
Res Sq
02/28/2023 Authors: Tandon R; Zhao L; Watson CM; Elmor M; Heilman C; Sanders K; Hales CM; Yang H; Loring DW; Goldstein FC
Genetic background influences the 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease mouse model brain proteome.
Front Aging Neurosci Volume: 15 Page(s): 1239116
01/01/2023 Authors: Hurst CD; Dunn AR; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Shapley SM; Seyfried NT; Kaczorowski CC; Johnson ECB
Batch Correction and Harmonization of -Omics Datasets with a Tunable Median Polish of Ratio.
Front Syst Biol Volume: 3
01/01/2023 Authors: Dammer EB; Seyfried NT; Johnson ECB
Multi-platform proteomic analysis of Alzheimer's disease cerebrospinal fluid and plasma reveals network biomarkers associated with proteostasis and the matrisome.
Alzheimers Res Ther Volume: 14 Page(s): 174
11/17/2022 Authors: Dammer EB; Ping L; Duong DM; Modeste ES; Seyfried NT; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Johnson ECB
CSF proteome profiling across the Alzheimer's disease spectrum reflects the multifactorial nature of the disease and identifies specific biomarker panels.
Nat Aging Volume: 2 Page(s): 1040 - 1053
11/01/2022 Authors: Del Campo M; Peeters CFW; Johnson ECB; Vermunt L; Hok-A-Hin YS; van Nee M; Chen-Plotkin A; Irwin DJ; Hu WT; Lah JJ
Race-Dependent Differences in Biomarkers Lead to Lower Rates of Alzheimer's Disease Classification in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic African Americans
Volume: 92 Page(s): S58 - S59
10/01/2022 Authors: Lah JJ; Parker MW; Tian G; Hales CM; Johnson ECB; Hanfelt JJ; Risk BB; Levey AI; Hajjar IM
Large-scale deep multi-layer analysis of Alzheimer's disease brain reveals strong proteomic disease-related changes not observed at the RNA level.
Nat Neurosci Volume: 25 Page(s): 213 - 225
02/01/2022 Authors: Johnson ECB; Carter EK; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Gerasimov ES; Liu Y; Liu J; Betarbet R; Ping L; Yin L
Insights into the changes in the proteome of Alzheimer disease elucidated by a meta-analysis.
Sci Data Volume: 8 Page(s): 312
12/03/2021 Authors: Haytural H; Benfeitas R; Schedin-Weiss S; Bereczki E; Rezeli M; Unwin RD; Wang X; Dammer EB; Johnson ECB; Seyfried NT
Large-scale deep multi-layer analysis of Alzheimer's disease brain reveals strong proteomic disease-related changes not observed at the RNA level.
Alzheimers Dement Volume: 17 Suppl 3 Page(s): e055041
12/01/2021 Authors: Johnson ECB; Carter EK; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Liu Y; Liu J; Betarbet R; Ping L; Yin L; Beach TG
Differential Expression of CD44 Variants in Normal and AD Brain

01/01/2021 Authors: Johnson E; Qian K; Betarbet R; Commander R; Gileadi O; Fu H; Levey A
Integrated proteomics reveals brain-based cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in asymptomatic and symptomatic Alzheimer's disease.
Sci Adv Volume: 6
10/01/2020 Authors: Higginbotham L; Ping L; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Zhou M; Gearing M; Hurst C; Glass JD; Factor SA; Johnson ECB
Deep Proteomic Analysis of Alzheimer Disease Brain Identifies New Protein Co-Expression Modules Associated with Disease That are Not Observed at the RNA Level
Volume: 88 Page(s): S96 - S96
10/01/2020 Authors: Johnson ECB; Dammer EB; Carter EK; Duong DM; Ping L; Yin L; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Seyfried NT
Behavioral and neural network abnormalities in human APP transgenic mice resemble those of App knock-in mice and are modulated by familial Alzheimer's disease mutations but not by inhibition of BACE1.
Mol Neurodegener Volume: 15 Page(s): 53
09/14/2020 Authors: Johnson ECB; Ho K; Yu G-Q; Das M; Sanchez PE; Djukic B; Lopez I; Yu X; Gill M; Zhang W
Identification of Conserved Proteomic Networks in Neurodegenerative Dementia.
Cell Rep Volume: 31 Page(s): 107807
06/23/2020 Authors: Swarup V; Chang TS; Duong DM; Dammer EB; Dai J; Lah JJ; Johnson ECB; Seyfried NT; Levey AI; Geschwind DH
Large-scale proteomic analysis of Alzheimer's disease brain and cerebrospinal fluid reveals early changes in energy metabolism associated with microglia and astrocyte activation.
Nat Med Volume: 26 Page(s): 769 - 780
05/01/2020 Authors: Johnson ECB; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Ping L; Zhou M; Yin L; Higginbotham LA; Guajardo A; White B; Troncoso JC
Targeted mass spectrometry to quantify brain-derived cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.
Clin Proteomics Volume: 17 Page(s): 19
01/01/2020 Authors: Zhou M; Haque RU; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Ping L; Johnson ECB; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Seyfried NT
A Consensus Alzheimer's Disease Brain Protein Co-Expression Network Identifies Robust Biological Alterations Associated with Early- And Late-Stage Disease
Volume: 86 Page(s): S242 - S242
10/01/2019 Authors: Johnson ECB; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Yin L; Betarbet R; Shulman JM; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Seyfried NT
Mass Spectrometry-Based Quantification of Tau in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Using a Complementary Tryptic Peptide Standard.
J Proteome Res Volume: 18 Page(s): 2422 - 2432
06/07/2019 Authors: Zhou M; Duong DM; Johnson ECB; Dai J; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Seyfried NT
Deep proteomic network analysis of Alzheimer's disease brain reveals alterations in RNA binding proteins and RNA splicing associated with disease.
Mol Neurodegener Volume: 13 Page(s): 52
10/04/2018 Authors: Johnson ECB; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Yin L; Thambisetty M; Troncoso JC; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Seyfried NT
Effects of APOE Genotype on Protein Co-Expression in Alzheimer's Disease
Volume: 84 Page(s): S164 - S164
10/01/2018 Authors: Dammer EB; Dai J; Johnson ECB; Duong DM; Gearing M; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Wingo TS; Seyfried NT
Effects of APOE Genotype on Brain Proteomic Network and Cell Type Changes in Alzheimer's Disease.
Front Mol Neurosci Volume: 11 Page(s): 454
01/01/2018 Authors: Dai J; Johnson ECB; Dammer EB; Duong DM; Gearing M; Lah JJ; Levey AI; Wingo TS; Seyfried NT
Peptide backbone modification in the bend region of amyloid- inhibits fibrillogenesis but not oligomer formation.
J Pept Sci Volume: 22 Page(s): 368 - 373
05/01/2016 Authors: Johnson ECB; Lanning JD; Meredith SC
Increasing the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase EphB2 Prevents Amyloid--induced Depletion of Cell Surface Glutamate Receptors by a Mechanism That Requires the PDZ-binding Motif of EphB2 and Neuronal Activity.
J Biol Chem Volume: 291 Page(s): 1719 - 1734
01/22/2016 Authors: Miyamoto T; Kim D; Knox JA; Johnson E; Mucke L
A small molecule targeting protein translation does not rescue spatial learning and memory deficits in the hAPP-J20 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
PeerJ Volume: 4 Page(s): e2565
01/01/2016 Authors: Johnson ECB; Kang J
Life extension factor klotho prevents mortality and enhances cognition in hAPP transgenic mice.
J Neurosci Volume: 35 Page(s): 2358 - 2371
02/11/2015 Authors: Dubal DB; Zhu L; Sanchez PE; Worden K; Broestl L; Johnson E; Ho K; Yu G-Q; Kim D; Betourne A
A 20-year-old woman with headache and transient numbness.
Neurohospitalist Volume: 3 Page(s): 101 - 110
04/01/2013 Authors: Tyler KL; Johnson ECB; Cantu DS; Haller BL
Ischemic stroke of the pyramidal decussation causing quadriplegia and anarthria.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis Volume: 21 Page(s): 620.e1 - 620.e2
10/01/2012 Authors: Wilkins EG; Kamel H; Johnson ECB; Shalev SM; Josephson SA
A 41-year-old man with new headache and altered mental status.
Neurohospitalist Volume: 1 Page(s): 48 - 54
01/01/2011 Authors: Johnson ECB; West TW; Ko NU; Strober JB
A designer ligand specific for Kv1.3 channels from a scorpion neurotoxin-based library.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 106 Page(s): 22211 - 22216
12/29/2009 Authors: Takacs Z; Toups M; Kollewe A; Johnson E; Cuello LG; Driessens G; Biancalana M; Koide A; Ponte CG; Perozo E
Insights from atomic-resolution X-ray structures of chemically synthesized HIV-1 protease in complex with inhibitors.
J Mol Biol Volume: 373 Page(s): 573 - 586
10/26/2007 Authors: Johnson ECB; Malito E; Shen Y; Pentelute B; Rich D; Florin J; Tang W-J; Kent SBH
Modular total chemical synthesis of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease.
J Am Chem Soc Volume: 129 Page(s): 11480 - 11490
09/19/2007 Authors: Johnson ECB; Malito E; Shen Y; Rich D; Tang W-J; Kent SBH
Towards the total chemical synthesis of integral membrane proteins: a general method for the synthesis of hydrophobic peptide-thioester building blocks.
Tetrahedron Lett Volume: 48 Page(s): 1795 - 1799
03/05/2007 Authors: Johnson ECB; Kent SBH
Exploratory synthesis of peptide-alpha-thioester segments spanning the polypeptide sequence of the delta-opioid receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor.
Biopolymers Volume: 88 Page(s): 340 - 349
01/01/2007 Authors: Johnson ECB; Kent SBH
Studies on the insolubility of a transmembrane peptide from signal peptide peptidase.
J Am Chem Soc Volume: 128 Page(s): 7140 - 7141
06/07/2006 Authors: Johnson ECB; Kent SBH
Insights into the mechanism and catalysis of the native chemical ligation reaction.
J Am Chem Soc Volume: 128 Page(s): 6640 - 6646
05/24/2006 Authors: Johnson ECB; Kent SBH
Total chemical synthesis, folding, and assay of a small protein on a water-compatible solid support.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl Volume: 45 Page(s): 3283 - 3287
05/12/2006 Authors: Johnson ECB; Durek T; Kent SBH
Synthesis, stability and optimized photolytic cleavage of 4-methoxy-2-nitrobenzyl backbone-protected peptides.
Chem Commun (Camb) Page(s): 1557 - 1559
04/14/2006 Authors: Johnson ECB; Kent SBH

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Profile

Erik Johnson

Academic Appointment

Education

Degrees

Research

Focus

Molecular Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Publications