Research
The NERVA lab explores the pathophysiology of age-associated neurologic and psychiatric disorders with a mission to identify and develop targets for cell and gene therapies. We leverage model-based, neuropathologic, and translational approaches to uncover mechanisms underlying selective vulnerability and resilience. Our approaches are grounded in frameworks that consider how evolutionary, genetic, and life history factors drive an individual into and along disease spectra. We focus our therapeutic development efforts on the development and application of genome editing technologies to modify the patterns and processes of selective vulnerability.
Genetics
Germline and somatic pathogenic variants contributing to neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis are underidentified in neurology clinics. We combine approaches in molecular biology and neuropathology to close this gap.
Pathways of Vulnerability
We use model systems and human postmortem tissue to probe mechanisms of neurodegeneration, elucidating connections between life-history factors, genetics, and selective vulnerability.
Genomic Therapeutics
Genome editing has the potential to not only correct pathogenic variants, but also modify factors driving selective vulnerability. We build and develop genome editing approaches to mitigate degeneration in vulnerable cells.
Evolutionary Medicine
The patterns and processes underlying evolution provide a useful framework to uncover the fundamentals of complex diseases. These patterns and pressures inform on pressures driving selective vulnerability.
Funding
If you are interested in supporting our work, please reach out to Dr. Ehrenberg at ehrenberg@berkeley.edu