Email: brianba@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6862
Research Page
Dr. Balin is a professor in the department of Biomedical Sciences, teaching in both
the DO and Biomedical masters programs. He lectures and participates in case presentations
and laboratory sessions on a variety of subjects including: neuroscience, neuroanatomy,
neurodegeneration, neuropathology, general pathology, molecular basis of cancer, and
infectious disease.
Dr. Balin is an internationally-recognized expert in the field of Alzheimer's Disease
research. He is highly published in peer-reviewed journals, and has written a number
of chapters and reviews on the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, including reviews
on the "Pathogen Hypothesis" of this disease (see live discussion section, www.alzforum.org).
In addition, he has presented and continues to present his work at major national
and international scientific meetings including a number of international and world
congresses on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Post-doctoral Fellowship – University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia,
PA
PhD, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
BS, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
His research interests include: Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae as a trigger in the neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease, effects of infection and inflammation on the blood brain barrier in cerebrovascular disease, modification of neuronal cytoskeletal proteins through phosphorylation and the action of transglutaminase, and pathogenesis of chronic disease associated with the aging process. Dr. Balin has received numerous National Institutes of Health and private foundation grant awards for his research.
Medical College of Pennsylvania Nominee for Presidential Faculty Fellowship Program
(1992)
Amer Soc for Cell Biology-Glenn Foundation Award for Outstanding Research in Aging
(1996)
Professor of the Year 2008 – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Awarded
by DO class of 2010
Alzheimer’s Association “Making the Difference” – in recognition of co-editorship
of JAOA Supplement – “Managing Alzheimer’s disease through early detection and treatment
- 2010
Selected publications:
Hammond, C. J., Hallock, L.R., Appelt, D. M., Little, C.S., Balin, B.J.: Immunohistological
Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the Alzheimer’s Disease Brain. BMC Neuroscience
11:121, 2010.
Metz, R.A., Balin, B.J., Abrams, J.T., Schrogie, J.J.: Inflammatory mediators may
have divergent roles in cancer and in Alzheimer's disease. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther.
88(4):466, 2010.
Simpkins, J.W., Wood, B.E., Balin, B.J.: Alzheimer disease: the crisis is upon us.
J. Am. Osteopath. Assoc., 110 (9 Suppl 8): Sii-2, 2010.
Galluzzi, K.E., Appelt, D.M., Balin, B.J.: Modern care for patients with Alzheimer
disease: rationale for early intervention. J. Am. Osteopath. Assoc.,110 (9 Suppl 8):S37-42,
2010.
Balin, B.J., Schrogie, V.J., Abrams, J.T.: Toward a unifying hypothesis in the development
of Alzheimer’s disease. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 17:587-589, 2011.
Hudson, A.P., Balin, B.J., Crutcher, K., Robinson, S.: New thinking on the etiology
and pathogenesis of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. International J. Alzheimer’s disease
2011:1-2, 2011.
Balin, B.J., Hammond, C.J., Little, C.S., Appelt, D.M., Hingley, S.T.: Evidence for
an Infectious Etiology in Alzheimer’s disease. In: Advanced Understanding of Neurodegenerative
Diseases, Raymond Chuen-Chung Chang (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-529-7, Intech, Rijeka,
Croatia, 2011.
Thacker, J.D., Balin, B.J., Appelt, D.M., Sassi-Gaha, S., Purohit, M., Rest, R.F.,
Artlett, C.M.: Host-response to injury and infection and development of a first-in-class,
broad-spectrum, anti-infective drug. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemo. 56(4):1921-1930,
2012.
Balin, B.J. and Hammond, C.J.: Emerging viral and bacterial infections of the central
nervous system. Neurobehavioral HIV Medicine 4:1-10, 2012.
Eddens, T., Beaudoin, S., Steinberger, A., Little, C.S., Shell, D., Wizel, B., Balin,
B., Fresa-Dillon, K.L.: Effect of age and vaccination on extent and spread of Chlamydia
pneumoniae infection in C57BL/6 mice. Immunity and Ageing, 9(1):11, 2012.
Balin, B.J. and Hudson, A.P.: Etiology and pathogenesis of late-onset Alzheimer’s
disease. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep, 14:417, 1-10, 2014.
Lim, C., Hammond, C.J., Hingley, S.T., Balin, B.J.: Chlamydia pneumoniae induces an
inflammatory response consistent with that observed in Alzheimer’s disease. J Neuroinflammation,
(in preparation), 2014.
Selected presentations:
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Continuing Medical Education (Philadelphia,
PA) – “Correlating current hypotheses of Alzheimer’s Disease for bench to bedside
intervention”. May 20, 2006.
Drexel University, Dept. of Bioscience and Biotechnology (Philadelphia, PA) – “Chlamydophila
(Chlamydia) pneumoniae in Alzheimer’s disease”. June 8, 2006.
Macula Vision Research Foundation (Santa Fe, NM) – “Evidence for Chlamydia pneumoniae
as a Trigger for Sporadic Late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease”. September 14-17, 2006.
Saint Vincent Health System (Erie, PA) – “Emerging Pathogens in Alzheimer’s disease”
– January 18-19, 2007.
AOA Research Conference (San Diego, CA) - Chronic Disorders of Aging in the 21st Century:
New Insights and Approaches – “Infection and Neurodegenerative Disorders”, October
26, 2007.
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (Wynnewood, PA) – “Chlamydia pneumoniae in
Alzheimer’s disease – latest updates”, May 14, 2009.
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Nashville, TN) – “Chlamydia pneumoniae as
an environmental risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease”, March 12, 2010.
Neurotalk 2010 (Singapore, Singapore) – “Evidence for Infection as an environmental
risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease”, June 26, 2010.
AOA Research Conference 2010 (San Francisco, CA) – “Chlamydia pneumoniae in Alzheimer’s
disease: Analysis of the Host-Pathogen Relationship, October 25, 2010.
Conestoga High School Advanced Psychology (Paoli, PA) – “Alzheimer’s disease: A researcher’s
perspective” – October, 2011 and 2012
AZO Pharmaceutical Fraternity - Kappa Chapter, Continuing Education Programs (Timonium,
MD) - “Analysis of Risk Factors in Alzheimer’s disease: What About Infection?”, October
27, 2013
Baldwin School – Advanced Biology Class – (Bryn Mawr, PA) – “Analysis of Risk Factors
in Alzheimer’s disease: What About Infection?” – March 12, 2014
NIH/NIA - R29-AG10160 ; - PI; "The neuronal cytoskeleton in aging and Alzheimer's Disease".(4/1/92-3/31/97).
AHERF Neurosciences Grant (G9410-020-Y01) - Co-PI; "Differential expression and sorting of the neuron-specific class III b-tubulin isotype in human neuronal and neuroendocrine tumor cell lines maintained in an organ culture system". (2/1/95-1/31/96).
NIH/NIAID - R01- AI44055-01A1 - coPI; “Chlamydia pneumoniae: a pathogen in Alzheimer’s Disease?” (06/01/99 - 05/31/04).
NIH/ R15-co investigator- "Immunosenescence and Chlamydia Pneumoniae " (05/01/00-6/30/02)
Adolf and Rose Levis Foundation - PI -“The role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease”. (1/01/2003- present)
IIRG – Alzheimer’s Association – PI: “Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of mice triggers Alzheimer-like pathology” (09/1/04 – 08/31/07).
Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Endowment – PI (Director, CCDA ) – “Endowment for the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging”. (12/8/06 - present).
The IHVR (Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research) through a DCED (Department of Community and Economic Development) Innovation Grant from the State of Pennsylvania called “Talent Scout for Technology” – PI: “The case for an infectious etiology of late onset Alzheimer’s disease “ (01/01/11 – 12/31/11).
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