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Sreeganga Chandra, PhD

Associate Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience

Contact Information

Sreeganga Chandra, PhD

Research Summary

My lab explores two related themes, those of synapse loss and neurodegeneration. Synapse loss is an early, defining event in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. In these prolonged diseases, decreases in synapse density are the best correlates of disease progression.Yet, little is known about the pathways that maintain synapses and their roles in aging and neurodegeneration. We are characterizing familial neurodegeneration genes that encode synaptic proteins to understand this important step in disease pathogenesis. Our lab uses mouse models as well as iPSC derived neuronal models in combination with biochemical, cell biological and in vivo approaches to tackle these important questions.

Specialized Terms:

  • Presynaptic Biology
  • Synapse Maintenance
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
  • Neurodegeneration

Extensive Research Description

  • Role of the endolysosomal pathway in Parkinson's disease
  • Protein palmitoylation and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis
  • Identification of the physiological function of synucleins
  • Role of CSP alpha in synapse maintenance
  • Identification of novel synapse maintenance genes

Coauthors

Research Interests

Neurology; Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses; Parkinson Disease; Synapses; Receptors, Presynaptic; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Research Images

Selected Publications