Positions

Overview

  • Biographical Sketch
    Laura Volpicelli-Daley earned her BA in Mathematics and English Literature at Franklin and Marshall College. She earned her PhD in Neuroscience at Emory University, where she performed her thesis project in the laboratory of Allan Levey, MD,PhD, Chairman of Neurology and director of the Center of Neurodegenerative Disease. Laura performed her postdoctoral fellowship in Cell Biology at Yale University, in the laboratory of Pietro De Camilli, MD, Howard Hughes Investigator. Laura received further training in Parkinson’s disease at the University of Pennsylvania with Virginia Lee MBA, PhD and John Trojanowski MD, PhD, co-directors of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research.

    • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title Altmetric
    2019 Pα-syn* mitotoxicity is linked to MAPK activation and involves tau phosphorylation and aggregation at the mitochondria 2019
    2019 Assays for neuronal defects caused by early formation of α-synuclein inclusions in primary cultured neurons 2019
    2019 Defining α-synuclein species responsible for Parkinson's disease phenotypes in mice 2019
    2018 14-3-3 proteins reduce cell-to-cell transfer and propagation of pathogenic α-synuclein 2018
    2018 Sensitivity and specificity of phospho-Ser129 α-synuclein monoclonal antibodies 2018
    2018 α-Synuclein fibril-induced paradoxical structural and functional defects in hippocampal neurons 2018
    2018 Best practices for generating and using alpha-synuclein pre-formed fibrils to model Parkinson's disease in rodents 2018
    2018 Identification of a highly neurotoxic α-synuclein species inducing mitochondrial damage and mitophagy in Parkinson’s disease 2018
    2017 LRRK2 Antisense Oligonucleotides Ameliorate α-Synuclein Inclusion Formation in a Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model. 2017
    2017 Effects of α-synuclein on axonal transport 2017
    2017 α-Synuclein fibril-induced inclusion spread in rats and mice correlates with dopaminergic Neurodegeneration 2017
    2016 How can rAAV-α-synuclein and the fibril α-synuclein models advance our understanding of Parkinson's disease? 2016
    2016 G2019s-LRRK2 expression augments α-synuclein sequestration into inclusions in neurons 2016
    2016 MicroRNA-155 regulates alpha-synuclein-induced inflammatory responses in models of Parkinson disease 2016
    2016 Invisible Killers 2016
    2015 Trophic factors for Parkinson's disease: To live or let die 2015
    2015 Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) pharmacological inhibition abates α-synuclein gene-induced neurodegeneration 2015
    2014 Unique functional and structural properties of the LRRK2 protein ATP-binding pocket 2014
    2014 Differential LRRK2 expression in the cortex, striatum, and substantia nigra in transgenic and nontransgenic rodents 2014
    2014 Abrogation of α-synuclein -mediated dopaminergic neurodegeneration in LRRK2-deficient rats 2014
    2014 Addition of exogenous α-synuclein preformed fibrils to primary neuronal cultures to seed recruitment of endogenous α-synuclein to Lewy body and Lewy neurite-like aggregates 2014
    2014 Formation of α-synuclein lewy neurite-like aggregates in axons impedes the transport of distinct endosomes 2014
    2013 Calcium entry and α-synuclein inclusions elevate dendritic mitochondrial oxidant stress in dopaminergic neurons 2013
    2013 Lewy body-like α-synuclein aggregates resist degradation and impair macroautophagy 2013
    2011 Exogenous α-synuclein fibrils induce Lewy body pathology leading to synaptic dysfunction and neuron death. 2011
    2010 Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinases and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate synthesis in the brain 2010
    2005 Isoform-selective effects of the depletion of ADP-ribosylation factors 1-5 on membrane traffic 2005
    2004 Immunohistochemical localization of proteins in the nervous system. 2004
    2003 Altered Striatal Function and Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptors in Acetylcholinesterase Knockout Mice 2003
    2003 Altered hippocampal muscarinic receptors in acetylcholinesterase-deficient mice 2003
    2003 Regulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor function in acetylcholinesterase knockout mice 2003

    Research Overview

  • The goal of the lab is to stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease, particularly the development of cognitive impairments. To accomplish this, the lab seeks to understand how aggregates of α-synuclein form, and how to stop their spread throughout the nervous system. The lab utilizes rodent models to determine how genes such as LRRK2, GBA and Tau influence the formation of α-synuclein aggregates. Collaborations with drug discovery companies also seek to determine if novel therapeutics can prevent α-synuclein aggregate formation and associated neuronal dysfunction. Techniques in the lab include: protein purification, super resolution imaging, live cell imaging, biochemistry,and rodent behavior. Finally, Dr. Volpicelli-Daley has several graduate and undergraduate students in the lab that have received prestigious awards, and is dedicated to their success as future physicians and/or scientists.

    • Principal Investigator On

  • Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease - Core C: Animal Core  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2018 - 2023
  • Role of Presynaptic Targeting of Alpha-Synuclein in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2018 - 2023
  • Rescue of Parkinson’s Disease Related Neuronal Defects by LRRK2 and Rab GTPase Substrates  awarded by Parkinson's Foundation 2019 - 2021
  • Expansion Microscopy to Visualize Intracellular aSyn Pathology  awarded by Fox (Michael J.) Foundation for Parkinson's Research 2018 - 2020
  • Seeking Neuro-Protection Via a Novel Complex-1 Chaperone Supplement  awarded by Fox (Michael J.) Foundation for Parkinson's Research 2019
  • Private Grant  awarded by MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP 2017 - 2019
  • Reducing Tau as a Therapeutic Strategy for Improving Cognitive Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease  awarded by DOD - ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH ACQUISITION ACTIVITY 2016 - 2019
  • Antisense Oligonucleotide Knockdown of the Transcriptional Repressor RIP140 to Enhance Survival of Dopaminergic Neurons in a Mouse of PD  awarded by SOUTHERN RESEARCH INSTITUTE 2017 - 2018
  • Defining Alpha-Synuclein Conformers Responsible for PD Phenotypes in Mice  awarded by Fox (Michael J.) Foundation for Parkinson's Research 2016 - 2018
  • Further Validation of SIRT3 as a Disease Modifying Agent in Parkinson's Disease  awarded by University of Toronto 2015 - 2016
  • LRRK2 in Pathological Synuclein Transmission  awarded by American Parkinson Disease Association 2014 - 2015
  • LRRK2 in Pathological Synuclein Transmission  awarded by American Parkinson Disease Association 2013 - 2014

    • Investigator On

  • Contribution of the Interaction Between Synuclein and Tau in the Pathophysiology of Dementia with Lewy Bodies  awarded by National Institute on Aging/NIH/DHHS 2018 - 2023
  • Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2018 - 2023
  • The Nigral Molecular Clock and Vulnerability to Neurodegeneration  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2018 - 2023
  • The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders 2019 Program  awarded by Fox (Michael J.) Foundation for Parkinson's Research 2019 - 2022
  • Lysosomal Enhancement Strategies in Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2017 - 2020
  • Alpha-Galactosidase A: A Novel Target for Reducing Alpha-Synuclein Toxicity  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2016 - 2019
  • Mechanisms of LRRK2 Mediated Neurotoxicity  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2016 - 2019
  • Efficacies and Pharmacodynamic Assays for LRRK2 Small-Molecule Inhibitors  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2018
  • Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2015 - 2018
  • Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease - Project 1: PD-Linked Susceptibilities in Myeloid-Cell CNS Infiltration  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2015 - 2018
  • Identification of Robust and Relevant Pre-Clinical Phenotypes for LRRK2 Therapeutics  awarded by Fox (Michael J.) Foundation for Parkinson's Research 2015 - 2018
  • Efficacies and Pharmacodynamic Assays for LRRK2 Small-Molecule Inhibitors  awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS 2016 - 2017
  • Validation of CCR2-Dependent Monocyte Entry in Alpha-Synuclein-Induced Toxicity  awarded by Fox (Michael J.) Foundation for Parkinson's Research 2016 - 2017

    • Education And Training

  • Emory University Biochemistry, Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Yale University Cell Biology, Postdoctoral Fellowship

    • Full Name

  • Laura Volpicelli-Daley