Scholarly Expertise: Parkinson’s Disease

Olena Korvatska

Personal Statement

My research interests are focused on gene discovery and elucidation of molecular pathways underlying molecular mechanisms in cognitive decline caused by neurodegeneration and protein aggregation disorders. My current research projects involve both Mendelian (X-linked Parkinson and Spasticity) and complex disorders (such as Alzheimer’s disease). We analyze familial forms of diseases using exome sequencing and linkage mapping approaches. Candidate variants are validated using live patient cells and post-mortem tissue. Further functional insights are gained by generation of model cell lines and/or transgenic mice. The strategy allowed uncovering various disease mechanisms central to pathogenesis: protein misfolding and aggregation, deletion/duplication of genic regions and tissue-specific alternative splicing.

Debby Tsuang

Personal Statement

Over the past 20 years, my research has focused on the genetics of schizophrenia and neurodegenerative disorders, particularly on the use of clinical phenotyping and innovative genomic technologies to elucidate the complex genetic architecture underlying schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). I served as the Director of the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Puget Sound Health (VAPS) from 2011-2022, in order to focus on my research on Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders. My current research interests are two-pronged: 1) develop machine learning models in VA’s vast electronic health records in order to assign ADRD probability scores in older Black and White Veterans; and 2) use mobile health devices to promote early diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies. In In these capacities, I direct multidisciplinary efforts to better understand the biology, genetics, etiology, prevention, and treatment of these disorders, and I provide clinical expertise for the differential diagnosis of  neurodegenerative disorders and treatment of behavioral disturbances in dementias.