Scholars@Duke
Carol Anne Colton

Carol Anne Colton

Professor in Neurology
Neurology, Translational Brain Sciences
carol.colton@duke.edu
Duke Box 2900, Durham, NC 27710
201H Bryan Res Bldg, Durham, NC 27710

Overview

Dr. Colton's research has centered on the study of chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. These diseases have a neuroinflammatory component involving the innate immune system in the CNS. Dr. Colton was among the first scientists to demonstrate that microglia are CNS macrophages and, like other tissue macrophages, respond to injury in the CNS by "killing" invading organisms. Microglia then help to orchestrate the "repair" process after injury. Recent research has focused on the regulation of microglial reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species production as well as other cytoactive macrophage products that are made during the classical and alternative activation states associated with chronic neurodegeneration. Knowledge gained from the basic research program has been translated to the development of novel and extremely useful mouse models of Alzheimer's disease that enable pre-clinical testing of basic mechanisms and of potential therapeutics.



Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor in Neurology · 2025 - Present Neurology, Translational Brain Sciences, Neurology
Professor in Pathology · 2020 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences · 2011 - Present Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers

In the News

Published June 10, 2015
New Alzheimer’s disease study makes connection to cause
Published April 17, 2015
Carol Colton interviewed: Scientists close in on Alzheimer's cure
Published April 16, 2015
New clue about what causes Alzheimer's disease

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Recent Publications

Alzheimer's Disease Protein Relevance Analysis Using Human and Mouse Model Proteomics Data.

Journal Article Front Syst Biol · 2023 The principles governing genotype-phenotype relationships are still emerging(1-3), and detailed translational as well as transcriptomic information is required to understand complex phenotypes, such as the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. For this reas ... Full text Link to item Cite

Infection and inflammation: New perspectives on Alzheimer's disease.

Journal Article Brain Behav Immun Health · July 2022 Neuroinflammation has been recognized as a component of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology since the original descriptions by Alois Alzheimer and a role for infections in AD pathogenesis has long been hypothesized. More recently, this hypothesis has gained ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants

Hypoperfusion, Hemodynamic Control Domains and Neurovascular Dysregulation in AD brain pathology

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2023 - 2027

Cardiac photon counting CT and its application in studying interactions between Alzheimer's and heart disease

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2021 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications

Rutgers University · 1973 Ph.D.