Current Research and Scholarly Interests
The major focus of our research is to understand the molecular basis of inherited Parkinson's Disease (PD). Pathogenic mutations in the LRRK2 kinase increase phosphorylation of Rab GTPases. We have found that phosphorylation of Rab10 blocks primary cilia formation in culture and in certain brain regions and we would like to understand how this leads to Parkinson's disease. We also study the NPC1 protein that is essential for cholesterol transport in humans and can lead to Niemann Pick C disease when mutated.
