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Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO

Joy Snider, MD, PhD
Site PI

Dr. Snider received a B.A. in Biology from Northwestern University in 1979, then returned to Texas to join the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, completing her M.D. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1989. Dr. Snider completed the neurology residency program at Parkland Hospital and joined the Neurology Department at Washington University in 1993 as a fellow, initially with a focus on mechanisms of neuronal injury in experimental models but more recently in clinical research. Dr. Snider’s primary focus is on the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, specifically dementing disorders. She works with colleagues at the Knight ADRC on longitudinal research studies in aging and dementia and directs the Clinical Trials Unit, where she leads a team conducting clinical therapeutic trials for people with Alzheimer disease and other dementias. Current interests include use of fluid and imaging biomarkers in clinical practice and implementation of new disease modifying therapies in clinical practice, specifically the Memory Diagnostic Center, the dementia specialty practice of Washington University School of Medicine faculty, where Dr. Snider serves as Medical Director and has helped lead the implementation of amyloid immunotherapy. Dr. Snider’s other professional passion is neurology education with a focus on dementia education for trainees at all levels. She served as the Program Director for the Adult Neurology Residency at Washington University/Barnes Jewish Hospital for 13 years and currently directs resident rotations and medical student electives at the Knight ADRC and co-leads the Research Education Component and is the PI for the T32 training grant; these mechanisms support predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and early career investigators in dementia research.

Madeline Paczynski, PA-C, MCMSc
Site Co-PI

Madeline Paczynski began her career in Alzheimer’s disease research in 2016 at the Knight ADRC at Washington University in St. Louis. She spent several years in her role as a psychometrician for the Memory and Aging Project before deciding to further her education as a Physician Assistant. She opted for additional training in neurology, specifically in dementia, and volunteered for several dementia research projects in Central and South Florida. After returning to St. Louis, and practicing in other subspecialties of neurology, she returned to Washington University and is now the site Co-PI and sub-I for the Knight ADRC Clinical Trials Unit and serves as a clinician for clinical research studies. Additionally, she provides care for patients in the Memory Diagnostic Center and has been leading efforts in the implementation of anti-amyloid immunotherapies in the clinic.

Sonia Simons, JD, MS
Site Liaison

Sonia Simons is the Clinical Trials Manager at the Washington University School of Medicine – Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Clinical Trials Unit (ADRC-CTU). With over a decade of experience in clinical operations, site management, compliance and beyond, Sonia oversees a team of ~15 researchers committed to the long-term goal of finding a way to effectively treat and prevent AD. Prior to joining the ADRC, she worked for several years as a study coordinator at Washington University’s Siteman Cancer Center, focusing on melanoma, neuro, and thoracic oncology drug trials. Sonia holds bachelors and masters degrees in Genetics and Neuroscience, and holds a law degree in Drug and Device Law to further her passion for regulatory management in clinical research.

Jordan Kulage
Community Engagement Specialist

Amanda Mecalo, BS
Community Engagement Specialist