Dr. Allison Snyder joined the University of Pennsylvania Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (Penn FTD Center) in September of 2024. Prior to this role, she spent five years with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Senior Research Fellow in the NINDS Intramural Research Program. At the NIH, Dr. Snyder co-directed the Neurodegenerative Disorders Clinic and served as a co-principal investigator for the ARTFL LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Dementia (ALLFTD) research study. She also led a Challenge Project at the Intramural Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (CARD). Dr. Snyder completed her neurology residency at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and received specialized training in behavioral neurology at the University of California, San Francisco Memory and Aging Center.
Growing up in what she calls a “brainy family” as the daughter of a behavioral neurologist and neuropsychologist, Dr. Snyder’s path to behavioral neurology seemed natural. She earned her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where her passion for neurology deepened. The methodical nature of neurological practice—forming hypotheses through patient histories and testing them through the neurological examination—particularly appealed to her. During her fellowship search, Dr. Snyder found herself gravitating towards programs with strong research components. “I felt like I could do more in the field of research. I felt there was a lot I could contribute,” she explains. Her subsequent training at the NIH complemented her behavioral neurology background, allowing her to develop and test hypotheses about neurodegenerative disorders using stem cell models. Her research focuses on using stem cells to determine the pathogenicity of genetic variants, work she looks forward to applying directly to patient care.
At the Penn FTD Center, Dr. Snyder aims to integrate her research expertise with clinical care. “I want to bring my two skill sets together,” she commented, “to make a difference for patients.” Working with the Penn Medicine’s Neurogenetics Clinic, she will help interpret genetic results for patients and play a crucial role in assessing patient findings. Through her collaborative approach, Dr. Snyder will help forge connections between scientists and clinicians, enhancing the quality of patient care through comprehensive medical and scientific insights.
A Michigan native, Dr. Snyder loves winter sports, particularly skiing. She passed this passion on to her family, introducing her oldest daughter to the slopes at just 18 months of age. When not in the clinic or laboratory, she finds joy in kitchen and when traveling with her family. Her enthusiasm for outdoor adventure and culinary exploration provides a welcome balance to her work in neurodegenerative research and patient care.
Dr. Snyder is looking forward to pushing the critical work of FTD research and patient care forward at the Penn FTD Center.