Research Interests

TGF-β signaling in the CNS and role in CNS disease - We discovered that abnormal TGF-β signaling may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease using a number of engineered mouse models that allow us to regulate TGF-β signaling in different cell types. Other studies showed that TGF-β1 can promote accumulation of immune cells in models of autoimmune disease but it can also support the late stages of adult neurogenesis and increase survival of neurons. Engineered mouse models which lack TGF-β receptors in neurons or report activation of signaling by producing indicator proteins are currently being used to study the role of TGF-β signaling in normal CNS function and disease. To try to exploit the beneficial effects of TGF-β signaling in neurons we are developing small molecule activators of this pathway.