Jerold Chun MD, PhD

Related Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease, Hydrocephalus, Multiple Sclerosis

Phenomena or Processes
Aneuploidy, Development and Differentiation, Development of Neuronal Circuits, G-Protein Coupled Receptors, Genome, Lipids, LPA, Mosaicism, S1P, Single Cell

Anatomical Systems and Sites
Brain, Nervous System

1. Genomic Mosaicism in the Brain: Genomic mosaicism (GM) is a surprising phenomenon whereby cells from the same brain actually have distinct genomes (different DNA sequences). We continue to define forms of GM, involved cell types, and GM’s impact on normal brain function and disease. Diseases of particular interest include Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases as well as neuropsychiatric disorders and substance abuse.
2. Lysophospholipid Receptor Signaling: Lysophospholipids, such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are small fat molecules that act through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) on the surface of cells. We continue to study fundamental aspects of their signaling properties, and their disease roles in hydrocephalus (water on the brain), neuropsychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, autism), and neurodegenerative disorders (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease).
3. Neuroscience Drug Discovery: From these and other research areas, new therapeutics for diseases of the brain are being pursued, which include identifying new targets, novel biomarkers, and mechanism-of-action studies. This approach successfully aided in the development of the first oral treatment for multiple sclerosis, fingolimod, and related lysophospholipid receptor compounds. Drug discovery efforts include not only small molecules, but also other forms of molecular therapeutics.