Our group studies the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). These diseases are characterized by the accumulation and progressive spreading of protein aggregates. In AD, protein inclusions of the microtubule binding protein Tau and the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide are found, whereas PD is associated with the aggregation of α-synuclein. In some patients aggregates of all three proteins are found, which suggests that there could be common disease mechanisms. To date, there is no cure for these devastating diseases. We are particularly interested in how pathological protein aggregates propagate and spread from cell to cell. A better understanding of these pathways might lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for treatment.

Our methods range from light microscopy, genetics (e.g. CRISPR), cell biology and biochemistry to systems analysis (using ribosome profiling), mainly in the model organism C. elegans, but also in mammalian cell culture. The nematode is easily genetically manipulated and its transparency allows observation of fluorescently labeled proteins in an intact living organism, which is of great value for our research. Moreover, its short and defined lifespan facilitates studying the impact of aging on cellular protein homeostasis and neurodegeneration.

You can find more about our research here.