Invention:
This invention is a transgenic mouse model for the study of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. This new model crosses a humanized APOE mouse model with a humanized APP gene, both common implicated genetic factors in Alzheimer’s Disease. The technology also developed a Parkinson’s Disease specific strain, where L444P and the GBA gene were crossed and developed for this novel mouse model.
Background:
In 2023, as many as 6.7 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s Disease and 1 million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson's disease (PD). Parkinson's is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. Traditional mouse models have remained limited in their ability to accurately study neurodegeneration etiology. This novel model employs identified proteinopathy pathways aimed at providing a more humanized strain of mice that are better suited for neurodegenerative research for humans.
Applications:
- Neurodegenerative disease research
Advantages:
- Use of identified proteinopathy pathway for humanized approach
- Focus on two leading neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
- Increases translatability of findings through implementation of a single model
- More fully humanized mouse strain for neurodegenerative research
