MOLECULAR MECHANISMS AND CAUSES UNDERLYING NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE
The primary research goal of the lab is to identify the genetic causes and clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. Using a combination of cell and molecular biology approaches we investigate how changes to cellular protein homeostasis impact human diseases.
Current research projects include (i) elucidating the signaling cascade that modulate the stability of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, which is deficient in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), (ii) investigating the role of proteasome dynamics in traumatic brain injury, (iii) identifying small molecule therapeutics to treat neurological disorders using mouse models and (iv) identifying new genes associated with hereditary neurological disorders. These projects are designed to reveal novel clinical entities and therapeutic targets for treating disorders of the nervous system.