Our lab is focused on understanding the pathogenic cellular mechanisms causing Parkinson’s disease and other aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases. We are using a fruit fly model based on a genetic risk factor for Parkinson’s disease, and a human neuronal model derived from Parkinson’s disease patients with genetic risk factors for this disease. We are currently investigating how this risk factor may influence faster propagation of pathogenic protein aggregation throughout the brain. We hope to identify new possible therapeutic targets to slow or stop neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease, where currently only symptomatic treatment exists.