Front Row Lecture Series

Paving the way to new therapies for neurodegenerative disease

Sandra Encalada, PhD

Learning, memory and behavior depend on the continuous movement of valuable cellular components along axons, narrow nerve fibers through which neurons send signals to other neurons. But when this transport system fails, molecular traffic jams can cause neuronal damage associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and prion disorders. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research associate professor Sandra Encalada shared how her lab is unraveling the cellular pathways that lead to the formation of toxic protein clumps seen at traffic jams inside brain cells undergoing neurodegeneration. Her breakthroughs are transforming the way scientists view brain health and identifying new molecules that could treat, and even reverse, complex neurological conditions.

Presented: February 15, 2023

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