Using molecular, cellular tools and disease models, we would like to better understand and treat neurodegenerative diseases. Protein tau has been a long time interest, is a common neuronal protein that, under circumstances and conditions not well understood to date, self-assembles into intracellular aggregates in several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's. The mechanism by which this critical transition from a soluble protein to insoluble fibrous material occurs is unknown. We are currently tackling the problem combining several approaches. 1) transgenic mouse models. 2) patient fibroblast-derived IPS neurons. 3) in vitro biochemistry and CRISPRi screening. 4) RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis.
Affiliated Researchers
Collaborators
Songi Han (UCSB), Yann Fichou (UCSB), Martin Kampmann (UCSF)
