Jennifer ISAACS

Biography

Dr. Jennifer Isaacs is a Program Director in the Translational Research Branch in the Division of Neuroscience. Dr. Isaacs’ portfolio includes research focused on precision medicine approaches in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) research. 

Prior to joining NIA in 2021, Dr. Isaacs directed a cancer biology lab as an academic tenured investigator. Her research focused on dysregulated cellular chaperone function and loss of protein homeostasis as a driver of cancer progression. Following her academic career, Dr. Isaacs served as a Program Director at the NCI where she managed a cancer biology portfolio focused on the tumor microenvironment, with studies related to vascular development, immunology, cellular plasticity and heterogeneity. At the NCI, Dr. Isaacs worked with trans-NCI staff to release collaborative funding opportunities and to organize workshops to advance basic and translational research initiatives.

Subsequent to the NCI, Dr. Isaacs was recruited to BARDA DRIVe, an HHS division developing medical countermeasures in response to chemical threats and infectious agents. As a BARDA Program Officer, Dr. Isaacs managed a portfolio of public-private contracts supporting advancement of therapeutic products including analytical tools, devices, and biologics, to identify and mitigate infection severity in response to COVID-19 or other pathogens. Dr. Isaacs managed teams of experts to support the de-risking and regulatory approval process for early-stage clinical products.

Dr. Isaacs obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed post-doctoral studies at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Isaacs is also certified as a COR II contracting official.