Molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Cellular and animal models: role of post-translational modification of tau

My laboratory's research focuses on the generation and characterization of mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases that truly recapitulate the pathogenesis, neuropathology, and symptoms, and that often allow for the characterization of existing therapies and the testing of new ones. Significant milestones include the demonstration, using transgenic mouse models, that neurodegenerative diseases are partially reversible (using Tet-OFF/ON transgenic systems or pharmacological approaches). Since aging is the main risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, we have initiated studies focused on understanding what happens during brain aging and attempting to reverse/slow down this process by using the expression of the so-called Yamanaka factors in the central nervous system of transgenic models of the disease.