My laboratory focuses upon understanding the causes and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and Fronto-Temporal Dementia. We and others have shown that these diseases are frequently caused by the accumulation neurotoxic proteins or protein fragments. We employ genetic, molecular biological, cell biological, and animal modeling strategies to: 1) identify disease-causing genes; and 2) to identify the molecular pathways by which these mutation or polymorphisms lead to neuronal death.