Prof.dr.ir. Ellen Nollen – ERIBA-UMCG, Groningen

Topic

Modifying protein toxicity in ageing and age-related diseases

Loss of protein homeostasis accelerates ageing and contributes to age-related diseases, which include neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As a consequence, toxic aggregation-prone proteins accumulate and self-assemble to form aggregates. We aim to identify and understand biological and molecular mechanisms that drive such protein toxicity and aggregation. Together with our collaborators, we use our results to develop interventions that can prevent or delay protein toxicity in aging and age-related diseases.

Main aim

• To identify and understand biological and molecular mechanisms that drive age-related protein toxicity

Methodology

• C.elegans models
• phenotypic tracking
• optogenetics
• behavioral analyses
• phenomics Seahorse XF
• genetic screens
• transcriptomics

Funding

• NWO
• Stichting ParkinsonFonds
• EU-ITN
• uniQure (PPP)
• ALS foundation
• ZonMW (TOP)