Department of Neurobiology
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Aging and Neurodegeneration
Home2024HomeDepartmentsDepartment of NeurobiologyOur ResearchAging and Neurodegeneration

Aging and neurodegeneration research in our department is focused on understanding the mechanisms that cause neurodegeneration. We address the genetic and infectious etiology of neurodegeneration, with a particular focus on the role that disturbances in proteostasis and neuroinflammation play in disease.

Aging & Neurodegeneration Labs

Kelly Lab

The Kelly Lab focuses on the superfamily of enzymes that degrade cyclic nucleotides known as phosphodiesterases (PDEs), with the goal of improving our understanding of how PDEs regulate social memory formation and social interactions, which will lead to the development of novel therapeutics for diseases where these social behaviors are compromised. Their integrative approach has led them to therapeutically target the enzyme PDE11A using both small molecules and biologics, both of which we are now testing in preclinical models of age-related cognitive decline.

Lindberg Lab

The Lindberg Lab works on the chaperone mechanisms used to maintain both the neuronal secretory pathway and the synaptic environment free of misfolded protein aggregates. We have discovered that two small chaperones, specifically expressed in neurons and endocrine cells, control the aggregation of several secretory proteins, including proteins known to be involved in neurodegeneration.

Baskakov Lab

The Baskakov Lab uses animal pathology, transcriptome analysis, neuroimmunology and cell biology along with structural, biochemical and imaging approaches to gain new knowledge on prion-induced neurodegeneration. Prion diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are fatal neurodegenerative disorders that can arise spontaneously, be inherited, or be acquired through transmission.

Monteiro Lab

The Monteiro Lab studies the protein degradation systems that function in the removal of misfolded proteins from cells, failure of which has been linked to disease, particularly neurodegenerative diseases. A central focus of our work is the human ubiquilin (UBQLN) proteins, which function in protein folding and degradation pathways.

Cheer Lab

Along with their work on motivated behaviors and addiction, the Cheer Lab is researching the therapeutic effects of endocannabinoid degradation inhibitors and zinc finger protein therapy on the neurobiology of prodromal psychiatric symptoms in Huntington’s disease.