Emma Hobby, Ph.D. student in the UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences program, neurosciences theme, is earning international recognition for her innovative research in Alzheimer’s disease.
Selected as the top presenter from a competitive group of more than 10 speakers, Hobby delivered a talk titled “Multimodal Networks Identify Synaptic Targets Related to Tau Seeds in Alzheimer’s Disease.” Her award-winning presentation highlights her use of advanced computational network approaches to analyze human data and identify promising therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease.
As a result of this achievement, Hobby has been awarded a travel grant to present her research at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), taking place July 12–15, 2026, in London, United Kingdom. The Tau Global Conference and Lightning Presentation award are sponsored by leading organizations in neurodegenerative research, including CURE PSP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation.
"It was exciting to have the opportunity to present my research on an international stage at Tau Global and even more rewarding to have it recognized with this award," Hobby said. "I am grateful for the chance to share my work at AAIC in London."
Hobby is completing her second year of graduate training under the mentorship of Jeremy H. Herskowitz, Ph.D., professor, Patsy W. and Charles A. Collat Endowed Professor, in the Department of Neurology. Her work reflects a growing emphasis on interdisciplinary and data-driven approaches to understanding complex neurological diseases. In addition to this recent recognition, she has already published a first-author manuscript in the journal eNeuro.