Brian Kraemer, PhD

The mission of my research program is to understand the molecular mechanisms at work in age- related cognitive decline caused by neurodegeneration. The relationship between neurodegenerative changes and protein aggregation are of particular interest. Investigations in my laboratory utilize both genetic and chemical biology approaches to explore the means by which abnormal tau protein contributes to neurotoxicity. Our general strategy is to use simple C. elegans models of tauopathy as the primary discovery platform and then validate findings using mammalian cell culture, transgenic mouse models, and study of postmortem human tissue exhibiting pathological tau. Our combined experience dealing with transgenic C. elegans models, human cultured cell models, and transgenic mouse models of tauopathy make us uniquely qualified to conduct these translational experiments.