Research Summary
Our research studies the regulation of brain lipid composition and metabolism by ApoE isoforms in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathogenesis.
We are developing preclinical candidates and new chemical scaffolds for AD therapies. Investigating the mechanistic actions of newly developed drug candidates in AD will help us better understand the pathways underlying ApoE-associated AD pathogenesis.
Another major lab focus is understanding the mechanisms underlying ApoE4-associated impairment in phospholipid homeostasis and AD development. We recently characterized a novel regulatory role of a microRNA in the ApoE4-PIP 2 -synj1 pathway. We are currently further evaluating the therapeutic and diagnostic implications of this miRNA in AD.
Other projects in the lab explore the interaction between ApoE4 and other risk factors, such as traumatic brain injury and female sex in AD development and progression. We also investigate the role of ApoE isoforms in injury models such as spinal cord injury.
Our research group closely collaborates with the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, the Department of Neuroscience, and the Department of Pharmacological Studies at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
