Mission
Neurological diseases represent important medical and socioeconomic problems and raise fascinating neuroscientific questions. The Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) uses basic scientific approaches to study major disorders of the nervous system, such as Alzheimerís disease, Parkinsonís disease, Huntingtonís disease, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis and stroke. Research is directed at advancing our understanding of the nervous system to the point where rational strategies can be developed to better treat and prevent these devastating conditions. Throughout the history of neuroscience, the investigation of neurological conditions has catalyzed, often driven, neuroscientific discovery. Therefore, in many of our studies we also explore what neurological impairments can teach us about normal neural functions. Closely linked to these goals is the Instituteís dedication to training in disease-related neuroscience at all levels of education.
Research Strategies
The analysis of neurological diseases frequently calls for teamwork, since their etiology is often multifactorial and neuropathogenesis can occur at molecular, cellular, network, and behavioral levels. Therefore, while the GIND is made up of independent laboratories, our research strategy often involves interdisciplinary collaborations among investigators from different laboratories with expertise in signal transduction, neuroimmunology, biochemistry, crystallography, molecular biology, genetic engineering, neuropathology, experimental psychology, and pharmacology.
Training Environment
The GIND and UCSF provide state-of-the-art research facilities and a highly interactive environment that is ideal for training in neuroscience and biomedical research. Scientists at the GIND hold joint appointments in UCSF departments, and GIND investigators are active participants in various UCSF graduate programs, including the Neuroscience Program, other branches of the Program in Biological Sciences (PIBS), the Biomedical Sciences Program (BMS), the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Program (PSPG), and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). GIND researchers also collaborate closely with investigators at other UC campuses and at Stanford, providing trainees with exposure to diverse cutting-edge technologies and scientific concepts.
Future Perspective
The rapidly expanding understanding of the human genome and the genomes of other species will undoubtedly result in the discovery of a large number of genes whose functions and relevance to disease merit further investigation. Scientists have already made great strides in identifying genetic factors that determine or contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, in most cases, it remains unclear exactly how the genetic alterations relate to the development of neurological decline. Unraveling these complex relationships is an important objective of our research efforts.
It is likely that molecular profiles of diseased brains and nerve cells, established by genomic, proteomic and other approaches, will identify a myriad of alterations that may or may not be causal to the diseases or physiological processes under study. Notably, this differentiation is critical for the development of more effective treatments. Members of the GIND have extensive experience in identifying the in vivo CNS effects of gene products and in assessing the specific roles of multi-functional molecules in physiological and pathophysiological situations. We are therefore in a good position to tackle complex diseases and to zero in on the real molecular culprits.
Mission Bay
The GIND is housed in the Gladstone Building along with the two other Gladstone Institutes at 1650 Owens Street, adjacent to UCSF's Mission Bay Campus in San Francisco. Major components of UCSFís Neuroscience Program and Department of Neurology are located at this site, and several more are slated to move here by 2010, creating one of the largest collections of neuroscientists in the country. During the past 10 years, the GIND has established many fruitful links between basic neuroscience and clinical neurology. We look forward to creating even more of them in the future, for the benefit of these disciplines, our trainees, and humankind.
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