Rate My Professor Annie Hiniker

Dr. Hiniker’s research employs classical neuropathology alongside cell biology, omics, and seeding assays to uncover molecular mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions, emphasizing LRRK2-mediated neurodegeneration, protein aggregation involving tau, α-synuclein, and TDP-43, and LRRK2’s role in proteostasis. Key publications include “Early Alzheimer’s Disease with Frequent Neuritic Plaques Harbors Distinct Neocortical Tau Seeds” (Nature Communications, 2025), “Down Syndrome with Alzheimer’s Disease Brains Have Accelerated Iron Accumulation Promoting Aβ Aggregation” (Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 2025), “A Repeat Expansion in GOLGA8A is a Major Risk Factor for Atypical Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration” (Nature Genetics, 2026), and “The E3 Ligase TRIM1 Ubiquitinates LRRK2 and Controls Its Activity” (Journal of Cell Biology, 2022). She has received the AFAR Paul B. Beeson Award and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Parkinson’s Disease Early Investigator Award, with funding from NINDS, the Epstein Family Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, and American Parkinson’s Disease Association. Hiniker serves on the American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP) Education Committee, co-directs the AANP Neurodegenerative Scholars R13 program, and sits on the Editorial Board of Free Neuropathology. A member of AANP since 2010, her work advances understanding of neurodegeneration and informs therapeutic strategies.