Tackling Alzheimer’s with Smart Protein Removal Tools

Project Code

MRCNMH26Ba Licchesi

Project Type

Wet lab

Research Theme

Neuroscience and Mental Health

Project Summary Download

Summary

Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) is a new approach that helps cells remove harmful proteins linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s. It uses special molecules that bring the disease-causing protein close to the cell’s natural disposal system, triggering its breakdown. This project will use knowledge of how cells tag and remove proteins to design new tools that target mutant Tau, a protein linked to dementia. The student will work across biochemistry and cellular neuroscience to create and test these tools in lab-grown brain cells, studying how removing mutant Tau affects neuron health and brain cell function in models of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lead Supervisor

Dr Julien Licchesi

Lead Supervisor Email

j.licchesi@bath.ac.uk

University Affiliation

Bath