Julio Leon Incio, PhD, MSc
Associate Researcher
Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases
School of Medicine

I am a molecular and genomics neuroscientist using experimental and computational approaches to understand how alterations in individual cells affect brain function in aging and disease. Given the intricate spatial wiring of our brain, my research focuses on identifying molecular changes in individual cells with spatial context integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomics.

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My research experience spans the analysis of postmortem brain samples, in vivo and in vitro disease modeling studies, and the analysis of bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics data. I am skilled in interpreting multi-omics data to discover biological mechanisms, with solid training in R programming, data visualization, and statistical tests. My ultimate goal is to contribute to developing disease-modifying therapeutic interventions.

Throughout my diverse professional journey, I have worked independently and collaboratively in different countries, including Peru, Canada, the USA, and Japan. I have established a vast network and mentored students from various nationalities and backgrounds.

Awards

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• Kyushu University Fund, Kyushu University, 2015
• Antonio Samanamud Romero distinction award, National University of Trujillo, 2014
• MOMBUKAGAKUSHO Scholarship, Ministry of Education and Science Japan, 2009-2016

Education & Training

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• PhD Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Kysuhu University 04/2016
• MSc Biochemistry and Cell Signaling Kyushu University 04/2012
• BSc Molecular Biology National University of Trujillo 2007

Websites

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• Julio_Leon_Linkedin (linkedin.com)
• Julio_Leon_Google_Scholar (scholar.google.com)

Publications (9)

Top publication keywords:
Peptide Fragmentsalpha-SynucleinCognitionAdaptation, PsychologicalAlzheimer DiseaseBrainNeuritesPhosphoric Monoester HydrolasesDNA GlycosylasesCerebral CortexGuanineLongevityMitochondriaDNA, MitochondrialGlucuronidase

• KL1 Domain of Longevity Factor Klotho Mimics the Metabolome of Cognitive Stimulation and Enhances Cognition in Young and Aging Mice.
  The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 2022 Gupta S, Moreno AJ, Wang D, Leon J, Chen C, Hahn O, Poon Y, Greenberg K, David N, Wyss-Coray T, Raftery D, Promislow DEL, Dubal DB
• MTH1 and OGG1 maintain a low level of 8-oxoguanine in Alzheimer's brain, and prevent the progression of Alzheimer's pathogenesis.
  Scientific reports 2021 Oka S, Leon J, Sakumi K, Abolhassani N, Sheng Z, Tsuchimoto D, LaFerla FM, Nakabeppu Y
• Comparative profiling of cortical gene expression in Alzheimer's disease patients and mouse models demonstrates a link between amyloidosis and neuroinflammation.
  Scientific reports 2017 Castillo E, Leon J, Mazzei G, Abolhassani N, Haruyama N, Saito T, Saido T, Hokama M, Iwaki T, Ohara T, Ninomiya T, Kiyohara Y, Sakumi K, LaFerla FM, Nakabeppu Y
• Peripheral Elevation of a Klotho Fragment Enhances Brain Function and Resilience in Young, Aging, and α-Synuclein Transgenic Mice.
  Cell reports 2017 Leon J, Moreno AJ, Garay BI, Chalkley RJ, Burlingame AL, Wang D, Dubal DB
• Human mitochondrial transcriptional factor A breaks the mitochondria-mediated vicious cycle in Alzheimer's disease.
  Scientific reports 2016 Oka S, Leon J, Sakumi K, Ide T, Kang D, LaFerla FM, Nakabeppu Y

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• Molecular pathophysiology of impaired glucose metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative DNA damage in Alzheimer's disease brain.
  Mechanisms of ageing and development 2016 Abolhassani N, Leon J, Sheng Z, Oka S, Hamasaki H, Iwaki T, Nakabeppu Y
• 8-Oxoguanine accumulation in mitochondrial DNA causes mitochondrial dysfunction and impairs neuritogenesis in cultured adult mouse cortical neurons under oxidative conditions.
  Scientific reports 2016 Leon J, Sakumi K, Castillo E, Sheng Z, Oka S, Nakabeppu Y
• MUTYH, an adenine DNA glycosylase, mediates p53 tumor suppression via PARP-dependent cell death.
  Oncogenesis 2014 Oka S, Leon J, Tsuchimoto D, Sakumi K, Nakabeppu Y
• Altered expression of diabetes-related genes in Alzheimer's disease brains: the Hisayama study.
  Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) 2013 Hokama M, Oka S, Leon J, Ninomiya T, Honda H, Sasaki K, Iwaki T, Ohara T, Sasaki T, LaFerla FM, Kiyohara Y, Nakabeppu Y