The LaVoie Lab About us
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, second only to Alzheimer’s disease. It is estimated that over 4 million individuals worldwide suffer from the disease and based on current estimates of its incidence and our growing aging population, that figure will likely double by 2030. Prevalence in the U.S. alone is estimated at 10.9 per 100,000 persons but may be even higher due to misdiagnosis.
The overall goal of the LaVoie lab is to elucidate the earliest molecular events responsible for adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases. We approach these devastating disorders from both the perspective that specific inherited gene mutations linked to familial forms can provide valuable insight, as well as maintaining a focus on aspects of the far more common sporadic forms. The LaVoie lab employs a diverse array of state-of-the-art tools to accomplish these goals including a series of novel knockin animal models, iPSC-based neuronal and glial cultures, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.
All about US
Principle Investigator
Matthew Lavoie
Fixel Family Chair, Co-Director Center Of Translational Research In Neurodegenerative Disease, Associate Chair For Research-Neurology
Our Research
Our focus on familial PD is centered on pathogenic mutations in the Parkin and LRRK2 genes. Parkin is an ubiquitin E3 ligase which is highly expressed in neurons. Autosomal recessive, loss-of-function mutations in the Parkin gene are associated with an often early onset form of Parkinson’s disease. The precise role of parkin within the neuron is not clear, however, data from multiple model organisms strongly support both homeostatic and pro-survival functions of parkin that impact mitochondrial biology. Our ongoing work seeks to understand how a primarily cytosolic protein such as parkin possesses such a potent influence on mitochondria.
Lab Publications
