Project: Protein misfolding disorders

About

Misfolding disorders are characterized by the aggregation of specific cellular proteins with prion-like properties in the central nervous system or in surrounding tissues like muscles. Our aim is to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which associated pathological prion and prion-like proteins are formed, secreted and spread, thus exerting their neuro/muscular degenerative properties in the context of three pathologies (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – ALS, sporadic inclusion body myositis and prion disorders). In tight collaborations with the neurologists from the Hospices Civils de Lyon, we also aim to characterize candidate biomarkers that could be used in diagnosis and disease monitoring.