Developing disease-modifying therapies for age-related synucleinopathies
The Schaser lab uses advanced imaging tools and an alpha-synuclein fibril seeding approach to study protein aggregation in a mouse model of Parkinsons disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). We specialize in merging clinical issues, animal behavior, and exploration of pathology in the cranial sensorimotor system to characterize and treat voice, communication, and swallowing deficits in age-related synucleinopathies.
Department of Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences | Purdue University
Lab Projects
Project 1: A new approach toward the development of disease-modifying treatments for synuclein-specific neurodegeneration in the cranial sensorimotor system.
- This project uses a new transgenic mouse model and the fibril seeding approach to determine the effect of synuclein aggregation in discrete locations of the cranial sensorimotor system on voice and swallowing function.
Project 2: A new approach toward the development of cranial sensorimotor assays to diagnose and treat synuclein-specific neurodegeneration
- This is a collaborative project to fabricate non-invasive, sensor-based, feeding assays in rodent models to detect subtle and early changes in swallowing function.