The importance of the DNA damage response in neurodegeneration

DNA damage occurs in early-stage neurodegenerative diseases. The response of neurons to the damage may contribute to disease progression by inducing senescence, cell-cycle and apoptosis. This project will investigate whether inhibiting the response of post-mitotic neurons to DNA damage can slow disease progression and be translated into a therapy. The project will use a combination of in vitro cell-based studies, including neurons differentiated from patient-derived iPS cells and neuroblastoma cells, and in vivo Drosophila and mouse models of neurodegeneration to study the importance of the DNA damage response in neurodegeneration.