Cellular mechanisms of Prion Propagation

Prions—misfolded proteins that trigger fatal brain diseases—replicate by converting normal proteins into copies of themselves, a process now linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This project uses advanced imaging and genetic tools to watch that replication happen inside living mouse brain cells, tracking how the abnormal proteins assemble, damage neurons, move within cells, and spread during early disease stages. Understanding these mechanisms matters because the same self-replicating protein behaviour appears in far more common neurodegenerative disorders. Without knowing exactly how prions and similar proteins multiply, researchers cannot reliably assess the risks of transmission or design drugs that stop the process. This is fundamental science. If successful, it will reveal the molecular steps of protein replication in real time—knowledge that could eventually guide the development of therapies that block assembly or spread. Past work on prion replication, once considered a niche curiosity, opened the door to understanding protein misfolding in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other diseases. A deeper grasp of these cellular mechanisms may similarly shift how scientists approach diagnosis and treatment for a range of brain conditions.