[Seminar] Neurodegeneration and drug discovery in C. elegans by Dr. Alexander Parker

Abstract & Biography

Alex Parker is an associate professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Université de Montréal, and a researcher at the CRCHUM in Montréal. He holds a career award from the Fonds de la recherche du Québec (chercheur-boursier Senior). Dr. Parker is a geneticist by training with an interest on late-onset neurodegenerative diseases. His laboratory uses the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to construct simple genetic models of neurodegenerative diseases. A major focus of his laboratory has been the development of models for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for use in drug discovery and development. These studies have led the way to identify new therapeutic targets and strategies usable in patients. Most recently as part of a national collaborative effort, a drug discovered using chemical genetic screens in Dr. Parker’s laboratory has shown promising effects in small clinical trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.