Title: Neurodegenerative Diseases: Genetic Causes, Pathogenic Mechanisms and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Gene therapy.

Speaker: Prof. Han-Xiang Deng

Research Professor of Neurology (Neuromuscular Disease)

Northwestern University

http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.html?xid=14225

Time：1:00pm - 2:30pm, June 28

Location: Room 1206, Wang Kezhen Building

Abstract:

Neurodegenerative Diseases are a group of disorders caused by neuronal dysfuînction or degeneration. The causes of these diseases are largely unknown. Approximately 5-10 % of the patients have a family history. These familial patients provide unique resources to identify genetic causes and to investigate the molecular pathways underlying the diseases. Our group has identified several disease-causing genes for Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease and other disorders. We have shown that oxidation-mediated protein aggregation, increased intracellular  calcium concentration, and trafficking/recycling defects of synaptic vesicles and large dense-core vesicles underlie the pathogenic processes. Finally, I will discuss efficacy and safety issues related to CRISPR/Cas9-mediated in vivo specific gene-targeting as a therapeutic strategy for these diseases.

Host PI: Prof. Yi Rao