Nadine Kabbani, Associate Professor, School of Systems Biology, Alessandra Luchini, Associate Professor, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM), and Amarda Shehu, Professor, Computer Science, are studying the mechanisms of amyloid interaction and signaling through the nicotinic receptor.
Specifically, they are investigating how amyloid proteins interact with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in human neural cells and exploring new areas for functional coupling between the two systems in the context of Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers hold that their findings might enable the development of new compounds and therapeutic approaches for better treatment of the disease. The study also enables a new collaboration using the power of protein isolation, protein paint, and structural modeling coupled to machine learning for the characterization of molecular processes in amyloid disease.
Kabbani, Luchini, and Shehu received $45,000 from the Virginia Center on Aging for this project. Funding began in August 2021 and will end in late June 2022.
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