Diseases associated with aging and development are already a leading cause of death and disability, and their prevalence is rising fast.
By 2050, the number of Alzheimer’s patients age 65 and older may nearly triple from 5 million to 13.8 million. Our researchers are discovering the etiological pathways as well as small-molecule and stem cell-based treatments to address the clinical unmet need of patients.

Translating basic science discoveries into new treatments
Our mission is to translate discoveries from basic molecular research and apply a systems approach to generate breakthrough therapies for devastating neurologic and cardiac diseases.
Programs
Degenerative Diseases Program
Every degenerative disease is associated with misfolded proteins. Studying these proteins provides new clues to protecting our health.
Development, Aging and Regeneration Program
By building, analyzing and probing models of disease, we can pursue innovative treatment strategies for challenging health conditions.
Neuroscience Initiative
This Institute-wide effort brings researchers together to apply multi-disciplinary approaches to understand cellular and molecular processes that underlie neurodegenerative diseases.
Publications
Nuclear Pore Complexes Are Key Regulators of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and Function.
Raices M, D'Angelo MA
Neuron 2019 May 8 ;102(3):509-511
Disulfiram (Antabuse) Activates ROS-Dependent ER Stress and Apoptosis in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Shah O'Brien P, Xi Y, Miller JR, Brownell AL, Zeng Q, Yoo GH, Garshott DM, O'Brien MB, Galinato AE, Cai P, Narula N, Callaghan MU, Kaufman RJ, Fribley AM
J Clin Med 2019 May 6 ;8(5)
Deficient Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondrial Phosphatidylserine Transfer Causes Liver Disease.
Hernández-Alvarez MI, Sebastián D, Vives S, Ivanova S, Bartoccioni P, Kakimoto P, Plana N, Veiga SR, Hernández V, Vasconcelos N, Peddinti G, Adrover A, Jové M, Pamplona R, Gordaliza-Alaguero I, Calvo E, Cabré N, Castro R, Kuzmanic A, Boutant M, Sala D, Hyotylainen T, Orešič M, Fort J, Errasti-Murugarren E, Rodrígues CMP, Orozco M, Joven J, Cantó C, Palacin M, Fernández-Veledo S, Vendrell J, Zorzano A
Cell 2019 May 2 ;177(4):881-895.e17
Soluble SORLA enhances neurite outgrowth and regeneration through activation of the EGF Receptor/ERK signaling axis.
Stupack J, Xiong XP, Jiang LL, Zhang T, Zhou L, Campos A, Ranscht B, Mobley W, Pasquale EB, Xu H, Huang TY
J Neurosci 2020 Jun 29 ;
Unlabeled lysophosphatidic acid receptor binding in free solution as determined by a compensated interferometric reader.
Ray M, Nagai K, Kihara Y, Kussrow A, Kammer MN, Frantz A, Bornhop DJ, Chun J
J Lipid Res 2020 Jun 8 ;
Selenium Restores Synaptic Deficits by Modulating NMDA Receptors and Selenoprotein K in an Alzheimer's Disease Model.
Zhang ZH, Chen C, Jia SZ, Cao XC, Liu M, Tian J, Hoffmann PR, Xu HX, Ni JZ, Song GL
Antioxid Redox Signal 2020 Jul 7 ;
Reduced C9ORF72 function exacerbates gain of toxicity from ALS/FTD-causing repeat expansion in C9orf72.
Zhu Q, Jiang J, Gendron TF, McAlonis-Downes M, Jiang L, Taylor A, Diaz Garcia S, Ghosh Dastidar S, Rodriguez MJ, King P, Zhang Y, La Spada AR, Xu H, Petrucelli L, Ravits J, Da Cruz S, Lagier-Tourenne C, Cleveland DW
Nat Neurosci 2020 May ;23(5):615-624
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5-Dependent BAG3 Degradation Modulates Synaptic Protein Turnover.
Zhou J, Chow HM, Liu Y, Wu D, Shi M, Li J, Wen L, Gao Y, Chen G, Zhuang K, Lin H, Zhang G, Xie W, Li H, Leng L, Wang M, Zheng N, Sun H, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Xue M, Huang TY, Bu G, Xu H, Yuan Z, Herrup K, Zhang J
Biol Psychiatry 2020 Apr 15 ;87(8):756-769
β-amyloid redirects norepinephrine signaling to activate the pathogenic GSK3β/tau cascade.
Zhang F, Gannon M, Chen Y, Yan S, Zhang S, Feng W, Tao J, Sha B, Liu Z, Saito T, Saido T, Keene CD, Jiao K, Roberson ED, Xu H, Wang Q
Sci Transl Med 2020 Jan 15 ;12(526)