Description:

Transmission of Misfolded Proteins in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Common Mechanism of Disease Progression

In collaboration with the Mechanisms in Aging and Dementia (MAD) Training Grant

Virginia Man-Yee Lee, PhD
The John H. Ware 3rd Endowed Professor in Alzheimer’s Research
Director, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research
Co-Director, Marian S. Ware Center for Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Program
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Registration is strongly encouraged. Visit bit.ly/ADS-3-20-25. Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

Dr. Virginia Man-Yee Lee is a biochemist and neurobiologist with extensive research experience on the biochemistry and molecular pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders as well as traumatic brain injury (TBI). Hwe research focuses on tau, α-synuclein, TDP-43, and other misfolded disease proteins in the pathobiology of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A multi-disciplinary approach (including biochemical and molecular studies of neuronal culture systems, animal models and human tissues obtained atautopsy) is used to address research issues unique to AD, PD, FTLD and ALS as well as common to these neurodegenerative diseases including the cell-to-cell transmission of these misfolded disease proteins and themechanisms of pathogenesis.

Other research efforts focus on understanding the biology and normal functions of α-synuclein, tau and TDP-43. These and other research approaches will provide insights on the loss of functions and gain of toxic functions of these disease proteins to advance drug discovery in AD, PD, FTLD and ALS. Dr. Lee's lab emphasizes training in research and is committed to training pre-doctoral and post-doctoral trainees and junior faculty to become clinical and translational scientists.