Reddy Research Units
Drug Discovery Unit
A major interest of the Reddy lab is to design, synthesize and test the efficacies of drug molecules against mutant proteins induced in Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and stroke. Another interest is to extend the lifespan of cells and to promote healthy aging of the brain and body. To determine the efficacies of small therapeutic targets, the Reddy lab uses cell and mouse models of aging, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. The Reddy lab sought to determine the protective effects of the mitochondria-targeted molecules MitoQ and SS31 in striatal neurons from Huntington disease mouse models and hippocampal neurons from Alzheimer’s disease mouse models, type 2 diabetic mouse model TallyHo mice and Protothrombic mouse model for ischemic stroke. Currently, Reddy lab is working on multiple molecules such as MitoQ, SS31, DDQ, curcumin and others.
Biomarker Development Unit
The Reddy lab works to identify peripheral biomarkers for aging, stroke, vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease Diabetes. A biomarker, such as a protein, nucleic acid or a metabolite, is the quantification of a definite biological state, typically relevant to the risk, occurrence, severity, prognosis or projected therapeutic response of a disease state. Recent discoveries in molecular biology have revealed that circulatory microRNA (miRNAs) are potential candidates for biomarkers because they are stable in peripheral circulation, and the level of a particular miRNA appears to change with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and vascular dementia. Recently, the Reddy lab undertook a global microarray analysis of serum samples from Alzheimer’s disease patients, individuals who were mildly cognitively impaired and healthy control subjects. Researchers found significant alteration in five miRNAs in the serum samples from the Alzheimer’s disease patients relative to healthy subjects. Similarly, the Reddy lab conducted global miRNA sequencing of serum samples from stroke cases and control cases to identify potential miRNA biomarkers.
- MicroRNAs
- Alzheimer's
- Huntington's
- Stroke
- Diabetes/Obesity
Molecular Basis Unit
The Reddy lab is working to elucidate the biology underlying aging, particularly in terms of the aging brain and to identify factors that promote healthy aging of the brain, as well as conduct research aimed at preventing or delaying the progression of age-related neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Type 2 diabetes. The Reddy lab is also investigating conditions that accelerate dementia in elderly individuals, including Type 2 diabetes mellitus in aging.