Finding Proteins That Go Awry in Alzheimer’s Disease

What drew you to the biomedical question you addressed in your research, and what did your studies find?

Of all the organs in the body, the brain has always intrigued me. I'm particularly interested in neurodegenerative conditions, especially those marked by the presence of abnormally folded tau protein — diseases known as tauopathies. Tau aggregates are commonly found in dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, but researchers are still investigating the reasons behind significant differences in tau expression, the diverse distribution and spreading of tau pathology in brain tissue, the modification of tau by associated proteins, and the disease-specific structures of tau clumps in the brain. All of these variations ultimately influence disease progression.

My research in Dr. Rossoll's lab focused on developing several cellular and brain tissue culture models to identify a full range of proteins that interact with and modify tau. These tools enabled us to identify novel proteins associated with tau in healthy and disease states, and to provide insight into previously unknown cellular environments and molecular pathways involved in tau changes that may lead to disease. Our approach may help identify potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for both primary and secondary tauopathies. I'm excited to see how my work, currently in preparation for publication, may contribute to the field of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

How did the resources and environment at Mayo contribute to your growth as a scientist and thinker?

I came to Mayo because of the direct translational focus of the research taking place ― studies that aim to affect patient care. I chose to pursue a Ph.D. on the Florida campus for several reasons. One of those reasons was the availability of the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank for neurodegenerative disorders, overseen by neuropathologist Dennis Dickson, M.D. The Brain Bank houses over 10,000 specimen samples, donated by patients, that are studied by investigators at Mayo Clinic and research collaborators at academic medical centers across the world. I recognized that access to the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank would enhance the translational dimension of my research and contribute to advancing the understanding of the neuropathology, genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology of neurodegenerative disorders.

What's next?

With the development of new Alzheimer's drugs, it's an exciting time to be working in this field. I hope to continue neurodegenerative research in industry and ultimately to lead efforts to bring neuroscience advances to countries globally.