Mary Konsolaki, Ph.D., has been working on understanding Alzheimer's disease for nine years. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that lead to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease, as well as other neurodegenerative disorders. In order to achieve this goal, her laboratory uses an invertebrate model system and has generated strains of Drosophila that express beta-amyloid peptides and display phenotypes related to Alzheimer's. A large number of laboratories around the world have requested and are using these unique Drosophila strains, achieving significant advantages in the field of Alzheimer's.

Prior to researching Alzheimer's disease, Konsolaki had extensive training in molecular biology (University of Crete, Greece and Harvard University) as well as in developmental biology (Princeton University). Subsequent to this training, Konsolaki worked at the Novartis Pharmaceuticals research department for six years as Program Head and joined the Department of Genetics at Rutgers in 2004.