Research

Education
Ph.D. Binghamton University

Postdoctoral Training
Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY

Research Interests
My primary research interests focus on the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. I have employed several mouse models, including Down syndrome, amyloid precursor protein (APP), Rab5 and APPL1 transgenic mouse models to investigate the mechanism by which dysfunction of neuronal endosomal-lysosomal system influences Alzheimer’s disease onset.

• Defined the role of amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolite, APP-βCTF, in the dysfunction of the endosomal and lysosomal system using Down Syndrome fibroblasts from human patients and Down Syndrome mouse models.
• Discovered that partial reduction of BACE1 expression can rescue Alzheimer’s Disease-related endosomal anomalies and cholinergic neurodegeneration using the Down Syndrome mouse model.
• Collaborated with pharmaceutical companies to assess the effect of p38 inhibition on Rab5 activation and its impact on Alzheimer’s Disease using cell lines and mouse models.
• Investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms of a specific p38α inhibitor used in the ongoing clinical trial for both Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild-to-Moderate Dementia with Lewy bodies, which showed promising results in the Phase 2 AscenD-LB study.
• Developed new ELISA to detect Aβ and APP-βCTF for various cell types and mouse brain tissues.

Publications
All publications