Characterizing Factors That Induce Waste Clearance in Microglia

Project Summary

Human genetic studies implicate microglia, the brain’s “trash collector” cells, as key players in Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Podlesny-Drabiniok and colleagues nominated candidate factors that may boost the ability of microglia to dispose of the waste that accumulates during Alzheimer’s. Here, the study aims to validate computational predictions and characterize the role of two candidate factors in human microglia at baseline and in the context of amyloids. Researchers will also target these factors in microglia derived from people carrying two copies of APOE4 to help these cells overcome the deficits associated with this major genetic factor for Alzheimer’s. Dr. Podlesny-Drabiniok's research holds the potential to explore novel therapeutic strategies aiming to induce waste clearance processes in microglia.