Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics
 

Neurodegenerative diseases account for a growing social, economical, and medical problem. While research in this field is active and many clinically useful pharmagologic agents have been developed, filling in the knowledge gaps concerning biological principles underlying these diseases will lead to more effective treatments and greatly ease the suffering and burdens imposed upon victims and their families.

• Understand biochemical pathways that underlie the neurodegenerative and neuropathological process using functional genomic approaches including microarray platforms, RNA interference, and bioinformatics.
• Produce transgenic C. elegans worms using human genes to model nerodegenerative processes and diseases such as Parkinson's diseas (PD).
• Develop bioinformatics programs and tools for biologists and neuroscientists to analyze and visualize functional genomic data.

The ultimate goal of these projects is to generate knowledge, concepts, and experimental materials to facilitate the development of more effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.