University of Zurich, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences

We are a research team focusing on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). In order to understand the molecular pathogenesis and to identify potential opportunities for therapeutic interventions for ALS and FTLD, we combine high-throughput sequencing with basic biochemistry methods and organotypic slice cultures, as well as human cells. We are particularly interested in mimicking the molecular events triggered by aggregation of ALS/FTLD-linked proteins by inducing the misfolding and aggregation of their native forms, following a prion-like paradigm. We envision building reliable models to study ALS and FTLD, and to identify mechanistic pathways driving their perpetuating progression.