Muchowski Lab

The major research goal of our laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie neurodegenerative disorders associated with protein misfolding, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. We utilize a broad array of tools and methods in our studies, including structural analyses of misfolded proteins and their assembly into aggregates, yeast genetic and chemical-genetic screens to identify proteins and small molecules that modulate aggregation and toxicity of disease-causing proteins, and molecular genetic and pharmacological approaches in cellular and animal models of protein misfolding and neurodegeneration. Our long-term goal is to use information gained from basic science, mechanism-based approaches to identify novel therapeutic targets for small molecules that could prevent neurodegeneration in humans.