Basic research

Decoding the Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration

Our basic research program seeks to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive brain aging and neurodegenerative disease. We integrate human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models, brain organoids, molecular biology, and human genetics to investigate how disease-associated pathways disrupt neuronal function and contribute to selective vulnerability. Current areas of investigation include the regulation of tau proteostasis, the role of JADE1 in tau metabolism, and the functional consequences of genetic risk factors associated with primary age-related tauopathy (PART) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). By bridging human genetic discoveries with innovative experimental systems, we aim to move beyond identifying disease associations toward understanding the biological processes that initiate and sustain neurodegeneration.