SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND OXIDATIVE PROCESSES IN NEURODEGENERATION

General Research DescriptionDr. Gary Gibson and his research group are trying to discover the underlying cause of age-related neurodegenerative diseases and to develop effective therapies. The most common age-related neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington diseases. The research shows that fundamental mechanisms of damage may be similar in many age-related diseases and stroke. The brain is very dependent on oxygen and glucose (sugar). Our research suggests that a reduced ability to use glucose and oxygen either causes the disease(s) or is a critical clinically relevant change. Dr.Gibson and his team are trying to determine why this reduction occurs and its consequences for brain function. Abnormalities in the use of glucose and oxygen cause abnormal regulation of calcium and production of excess free radicals, and these may lead to the brain dysfunction. Thus, preventing the free radical damage or change in calcium with specific drugs should protect these proteins and thus save the brain. They are using cell from patients, genetically modified cells and animal models to test these possibilities and to evaluate the effectiveness of drugs.

Description of research projects. Our research and be divided into four areas.