Dr. Tracy Hagemann

Biography

Tracy Hagemann is an Associate Research Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the UW Comprehensive Diabetes Center. Her research specifically focuses on Alexander disease (AxD), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the gene glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which serves as a major intermediate filament in astrocytes of the central nervous system. The onset of AxD occurs across a lifespan, with the majority of cases manifesting in early childhood and presenting with motor and cognitive delays, encephalopathy, seizures, and failure to thrive. Dr. Hagemann has developed a new rat model that shows distinct features compared to existing mouse models, addressing how these rats develop motor deficits and exhibit increased mortality rates. Her ongoing research efforts aim to investigate the role of dysfunctional astrocytes in the failure to thrive associated with AxD while also exploring connections with mechanisms and pathways implicated in diabetes, thereby contributing to novel insights into metabolic disorders.

Research Interests