Current Position: Associate Professor of Neurobiology, Neurology and Pathology at the University of Chicago

Education: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics (1992) from the University of Guelph, Canada

Non-scientific Interests: Camping, photography, and cooking

I have been at the University of Chicago since 1999 where I lead a group investigating the molecular and cellular biology of amyloid precursor protein trafficking and processing by gamma secretase. Over the years our research has focused on a better understanding of the physiological and pathological functions of presenilins, regulation of amyloid precursor protein trafficking, and characterization of the subcellular sites and membrane microdomains involved in the generation of beta amyloid peptides. We employ an integrated approach that combines hypothesis driven mutagenesis, biochemical characterization, detailed subcellular localization and live imaging, and electrophysiology to accomplish our research goals. This particular project was a collaboration with our good colleague Sangram Sisodia, the Thomas Reynolds Sr. Family Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Center for Molecular Neurobiology at The University of Chicago. His research has focused on understanding the cellular and molecular biology of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilins (PS1 and PS2) that are mutated in pedigrees with familial Alzheimer's Disease (FAD).

Read Dr. Thinakaran's article on page 19489.

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