My research program is designed to understand the molecular mechanisms and identification of new therapeutic targets of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  Taking advantage of discoveries of genes linked to these diseases (mutant APP and PS in familial AD and mutant SOD1, dynactin p150glued ALS4 and ALS2 in familial ALS), my laboratory is taking a molecular/cellular approach, including transgenic, gene targeting, and RNAi strategies in mice, to develop models that facilitate our understanding of pathogenesis of disease and the identification and validation of novel targets for mechanism-based therapeutics.  Significantly, these mouse models are instrumental for study of disease mechanisms as well as for design and testing of therapeutic strategies for AD and ALS.

              Current research projects in the lab include:

1. The role of Alzheimer’s b-secretase, BACE1, and APP signaling in learning and memory.

2. The role of Alzheimer’s g-secretase, including its function as a tumor suppressor in the skin.

3. The molecular mechanism of motor neuron disease linked to mutations in dynactin p150glued, SOD1, ALS4 and ALS2 with a focus on alterations in axonal transport.