Brain HDL Program

  • In this program we study how a deeper understanding of brain apolipoprotein biology can be utilized to make that can slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
  • We focus on a pathway to make smaller HDL particles, via ATP binding cassette 1 (ABCA1) and its capacity to regulate endosome formation.
  • Our research indicates that the formation of small HDL by ABCA1 in the brain can protect against neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in individuals at risk because of the APOE4 genotype.
Our main goals are:
  1. Develop a deeper understanding of endosomal dysfunction with APOE4 and its relation to brain HDL and ABCA1 activity using basic animal models
  2. Characterize biomarkers of brain ABCA1 activity using CSF and imaging studies
  3. Develop drugs based on increasing brain ABCA1 activity
  4. Define cerebrospinal fluid HDL particle composition, size, concentrations using ion mobility
  5. Define post-translational modifications of brain apolipoproteins in cerebrospinal fluid and their effect on brain HDL structure and function