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Nilufer Taner, M.D., Ph.D.

  1. Neurologist
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Departments

Location

  1. Jacksonville, Florida

Languages

English

Existing patients

Appointments

Nilufer Ertekin-Taner, M.D., Ph.D., is a neurogeneticist and behavioral neurologist at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Her laboratory aims to discover and characterize genetic factors underlying the complex genetics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative conditions.

She received her medical degree from Hacettepe University Medical School in Ankara, Turkey and her doctorate degree in Molecular Neuroscience from Mayo Graduate School. She completed her residency training in the Department of Neurology at Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, and her fellowship in behavioral neurology at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Jacksonville.

Dr. Ertekin-Taner’s work has contributed to the establishment of the endophenotype approach in genetic studies of AD and pioneered the use of amyloid β peptide levels as an endophenotype in AD genetic research. Dr. Ertekin-Taner's laboratory currently uses biological traits such as gene expression levels and cognitive scores and leverages combined genome, transcriptome and epigenetic data to uncover genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative conditions.

She has led large, multi-site projects that leverage complex data to uncover the genetic underpinnings of AD and other neurodegenerative conditions, which can ultimately identify therapeutic targets and biomarkers. In addition to her basic science research, Dr. Ertekin-Taner has worked as a behavioral neurologist in the Memory Disorders Clinic at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Jacksonville, where she has evaluated and managed patients with AD and other neurodegenerative diseases and has aspired to improve the quality of care provided to patients and their families.

  1. Alzheimer's disease
  2. Dementia
  • Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
  • Genetics of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases
  1. 2008
    ResidentBehavioral Neurology, Programs in Florida, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  2. 2008
    Fellow - Behavioral NeurologyDepartment of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  3. 2007
    ResidentNeurology, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  4. 2007
    Resident - NeurologyDepartment of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  5. 2004
    ResidentPreliminary Internal Medicine, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  6. 2003
    Research FellowshipDepartment of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  7. 2001
    PhDMolecular Neuroscience, Programs, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  8. 2001
    Predoctoral StudentMolecular Neuroscience, Programs, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  9. 2001
    PhDMolecular Neuroscience, Programs, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  10. 1997
    Research Fellowship - PharmacologyDepartment of Pharmacology, Cornell University Medical College
  11. 1996
    Predoctoral Studies - Ph.D. CandidateDepartment of Pharmacology, Hacettepe University Medical School
  12. 1995
    MD - MedicineHacettepe University Medical School

Certifications

  1. 2008
    Behavioral Neurology & NeuropsychiatryUnited Council of Neurologic Subspecialities
  2. 2008
    NeurologyAmerican Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Awards and honors

  1. 2022
    Alzheimer’s Association Zenith Fellows AwardAlzheimer's Association
  2. 2021
    National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine Workshop on Sex Differences in Brain Disorders: Emerging Transcriptomic Evidence – Invited PanelistNational Academy of Sciences
  3. 2021
    NIH Alzheimer's Research Summit – Invited SpeakerNational Institute of Health
  4. 2019
    Mayo Clinic Innovator Award (with Dr. Xue Wang), "Deciphering cellular transcriptional alterations in AD brains"Mayo Clinic in Florida
  5. 2018
    Investigator of the YearMayo Clinic Florida
  6. 2018
    NIH Alzheimer's Research Summit – Writing CommitteeNational Institute of Health
  7. 2017
    Health Care HeroJacksonville Business Journal
  8. 2017
    Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN) American Academy of Neurology
  9. 2012
    Robert Terry Award for the Best Paper on Neurodegenerative DiseasesAmerican Association of Neuropathologists
  10. 2008
    Health Care HeroJacksonville Business Journal
  11. 2008
    Clinical Research Scholarship (NIH KL2 RR024151)National Institute of Health
  12. 2007
    Basic Science Research AwardDepartment of Neurology
  13. 2005
    Selected Attendance, Residents' SymposiumAmerican Neurological Association
  14. 2004
    Travel FellowshipWorld Alzheimer Congress 2004
  15. 2002
    Travel FellowshipWorld Alzheimer Congress 2002
  16. 2002
    Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32 AG020903)National Institute of Health
  17. 2001
    Travel Stipend, Advanced Linkage CourseRockefeller University
  18. 2001
    Robert and Clarice Smith Fellow in Neuroscience ResearchRobert and Clarice Smith Fellowship in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Stroke, MCF Neuroscience
  19. 2000
    Graduate Student Travel AwardSociety for Neuroscience
  20. 2000
    Pivotal Research ScholarshipWorld Alzheimer Congress 2000
  21. 1999
    Mayo Graduate School Travel AwardMayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  22. 1999
    Full Scholarship, Genetic Analysis Methods for Medical Researchers courseDuke University Medical Center
  23. 1995
    Best Intern of the YearHacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
  24. 1994
    Diploma of Advanced FrenchMinistry of Education, Republic of France

Professional memberships

  1. 2023 - present
    MemberNational Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Committee
  2. 2023 - present
    Director and PIMayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) KL2 Mentored Career Development Program
  3. 2023 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Search Committee Medical Director, Medical-Industry Relations Committee
  4. 2023 - present
    ChairMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  5. 2023 - present
    MemberMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  6. 2022 - 2025
    MemberScientific Program Committee
  7. 2022 - present
    ChairMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  8. 2022 - present
    MemberMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  9. 2022 - present
    MemberNational Institutes of Health NHLBI Framingham Heart Study Brain tissue Repository Oversight Committee (BROC)
  10. 2022 - present
    External Advisory Committee MemberNational Institutes of Health Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers Boston University
  11. 2022 - present
    Scientific Program Committe MemberAlzheimer's Association International Conference
  12. 2021 - 2023
    Associate DirectorMayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) KL2 Mentored Career Development Program
  13. 2021 - 2023
    MemberMayo Clinic Research Operations Management Team Executive Committee
  14. 2021 - 2022
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  15. 2021
    MemberMayo Clinic International Research Subcommittee
  16. 2021
    MemberMayo Clinic Office of Core Shared Services
  17. 2021
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committee Department of Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics
  18. 2021
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committee Department of Pharmacology
  19. 2021
    Executive Team MemberMayo Clinic Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Strategic Planning Group
  20. 2021
    Co-ChairMayo Clinic Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Strategic Planning Group, Next Generation of Diagnostics and Neurotherapeutics
  21. 2021 - present
    Faculty MemberMayo Clinic Center for Health Equity and Community Engagement Research (CHCR)
  22. 2021 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  23. 2021 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  24. 2021 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  25. 2021 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  26. 2021 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  27. 2021 - present
    MemberMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  28. 2021 - present
    ChairMayo Clinic Research Operations Management Discovery Science Advisory Group
  29. 2021 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Research Operations Management Team
  30. 2021 - present
    Invited MemberNational Institutes of Health NIA ADRC and Translational Programs Bridge Team
  31. 2020 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  32. 2020
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committees Department of Comparative Medicine
  33. 2020
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committees Department of Health Sciences Research
  34. 2020 - present
    ChairMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  35. 2020 - 2021
    MemberMayo Clinic Racism and Health Equity Plan for the Research Shield Initiative
  36. 2020 - 2021
    MemberMayo Clinic Flexible Career Arc Task Force
  37. 2020
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committee Department of Comparative Medicine
  38. 2020
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committee Department of Health Sciences Research
  39. 2020 - present
    ChairMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  40. 2020 - present
    MemberNational Institutes of Health NHLBI Framingham Heart Study Executive Committee
  41. 2020 - present
    ReviewerFlemish Government Methusalem Program Review
  42. 2020 - present
    MemberNational Institute of Health NIA TREAT-AD (TaRget Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for AD) Consortium, External Advisory Board
  43. 2019 - 2020
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committees Department of Cancer Biology
  44. 2019 - 2021
    ChairMayo Clinic Enterprise Department of Neuroscience Academic Appointments and Promotions Committee
  45. 2019 - 2021
    MemberMayo Clinic Institutional Review Board Genomics Subcommittee
  46. 2019 - 2020
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committee Department of Cancer Biology
  47. 2019
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Chair Search Committee Department of Molecular Medicine
  48. 2019 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Young Investigator Research Symposium Advisory Committee
  49. 2019 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Enterprise Department of Neurology Academic Appointments and Promotions Committee
  50. 2018 - 2022
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  51. 2018 - 2022
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  52. 2018 - 2019
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  53. 2018 - 2022
    MemberMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  54. 2018 - 2020
    Member Mayo Clinic Research Public Affairs Subcommittee
  55. 2018 - 2019
    MemberMayo Clinic Clinical Trialists Task Force
  56. 2018 - 2019
    MemberDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Search Committee
  57. 2018
    IntervieweeMayo Clinic AAHRPP Site Visit
  58. 2018
    MemberMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine Bioinformatics Search Committee
  59. 2018
    MemberDepartment of General Surgery Chair Search Committee
  60. 2018
    MemberMayo Center for Military Medicine in Florida Associate Director Search Committee
  61. 2018 - present
    MemberMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  62. 2018 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  63. 2018 - present
    MemberNational Institutes of Health Genetic and Biomarker Disclosure Working Group
  64. 2018 - present
    Co-Chair/Writing CommitteeNational Institutes of Health
  65. 2017
    MemberMayo Clinic Search Committee for Center for Military Medicine Associate Director
  66. 2017 - 2020
    MemberDepartment of Cardiology CI Search Committee
  67. 2017
    MemberDivison of Hematology/ Oncology Chair Search Committee
  68. 2017 - present
    MemberCS/CI Conversion Committee
  69. 2017 - present
    ChairMayo Clinic Research Pipeline K2R Program Award
  70. 2016
    MemberDepartment of Neuroscience Search Committee
  71. 2016 - 2018
    Topic ChairAmerican Academy of Neurology
  72. 2016 - 2020
    MemberMayo Clinic Research Review Group
  73. 2016 - 2020
    MemberMayo Clinic Personnel Committee, Mayo Clinic Committees
  74. 2016 - 2017
    MemberMayo Clinic Research Communications Task Force
  75. 2016 - 2017
    ChairMayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Rochester Committees - Research Faculty Pipeline Task Force
  76. 2016 - present
    MemberGenome Analysis Core Advisory Panel
  77. 2016 - present
    ChairResearch Personnel Subcommittee, Mayo Clinic Research Committee, Mayo Clinic Committees
  78. 2015 - 2017
    MemberMayo Clinic Reseach Physician/Scientist Compensation Task Force
  79. 2015 - present
    Scientific Review Committee MemberNational Alzheimer's Coordinating Center
  80. 2015 - present
    ReviewerUK Alzheimer's Society Research
  81. 2014
    Session ChairGenetics: Transcriptomic and Epigenetic Changes in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Traits (O3-04), Alzheimer's Association International Conference, Alzheimer's Association
  82. 2014 - 2018
    Advisory Board MemberNACC
  83. 2014 - 2016
    Vice ChairResearch Personnel Subcommittee, Mayo Clinic Research Committee, Mayo Clinic Committees
  84. 2014
    Abstract ReviewerAging, Dementia, Cognitive, and Behavioral Neurology, American Academy of Neurology
  85. 2014
    Co-ChairSession S28: Aging, Dementia and Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology: Dementia Genetics, 66th Annual Meeting, American Academy of Neurology
  86. 2014 - present
    Program DirectorBehavioral Neurology Fellowship, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic in Florida
  87. 2014 - present
    Abstract ReviewerAlzheimer's Association International Conference, Alzheimer's Association
  88. 2013
    Session ChairThe Role of Alzheimer's Disease in Epigenetics and Transcriptomics, Alzheimer's Association International Conference, Alzheimer's Association
  89. 2013 - 2017
    ChairMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  90. 2013
    ReviewerClinomics Program, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
  91. 2013 - present
    MemberResearch Personnel Subcommittee, Mayo Clinic Research Committee, Mayo Clinic Committees
  92. 2012
    Session ChairGenetics of AD & non-AD Dementia, Alzheimer's Association International Conference, Alzheimer's Association
  93. 2012 - 2014
    MemberMayo Graduate School Thesis Advisory Committee
  94. 2012 - 2014
    Admissions Committee, Neurobiology of Disease, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  95. 2012
    Task Force MemberProgram Advisory Task Force, American Neurological Association
  96. 2012 - present
    Committee MemberEpigenomics Research Committee, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
  97. 2012 - present
    ChairMayo Clinic Mentoring Committees
  98. 2012 - present
    Executive Committee MemberAlzheimers Disease Genetics Consortium
  99. 2011
    MemberEducation Committee, Department of Neurology
  100. 2011 - present
    ReviewerMedical Research Council, UK
  101. 2010 - present
    Ad Hoc Grant ReviewerAlzheimer's Association
  102. 2008 - present
    MemberAmerican Academy of Neurology
  103.  
    Mayo Clinic Alumni Association, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  104.  
    MemberAmerican Society of Human Genetics
  105.  
    MemberSociety for Neuroscience
  106.  
    MemberSigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
  107.  
    MemberTurkish Pharmacological Society

Publications

Research activities

See a description of research activities.