Rethinking neurodegeneration: Could DNA repair hold the key to treating Huntington's disease? скачать в хорошем качестве

Rethinking neurodegeneration: Could DNA repair hold the key to treating Huntington's disease?

DNA repair mechanisms are emerging as critical players in Huntington's disease, revealing new therapeutic opportunities that could transform how we treat this devastating condition. Learn more: 📚 UK DRI website: ukdri.ac.uk 💊 Tabrizi Lab: ukdri.ac.uk/labs/tabrizi-lab 🧬Balmus Lab: ukdri.ac.uk/labs/balmus-lab 🧠 Massey Lab: ukdri.ac.uk/labs/massey-lab 📧 Newsletter: tinyurl.com/ukdri-newsletter In this special UK DRI webinar, internationally recognised researchers Prof Sarah Tabrizi (UK DRI at UCL) and Prof Gabriel Balmus (UK DRI at Cambridge): Explore what DNA repair is and why these cellular processes are fundamental to understanding Huntington's disease Present the latest breakthroughs from the field showing how DNA repair pathways influence disease onset and progression, including exciting insights from recent clinical studies Discuss their own collaborative work pioneering novel interventions to stabilise CAG repeat expansions Watch this fascinating event bridging fundamental DNA repair biology with cutting-edge therapeutic innovation, offering fresh perspectives on treating Huntington's disease at its molecular roots. The webinar was recorded on 29 September 2025 and will chaired by UK DRI Group Leader, Dr Tom Massey (Group Leader, UK DRI at Cardiff). Speaker and chair bios Prof Sarah Tabrizi (Group Leader, UK DRI at UCL) Prof Sarah Tabrizi is an award winning scientist who has published over 420 peer-reviewed publications, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, UK Academy of Medical Sciences and US National Academy of Medicine, co-founded the UCL Huntington’s Disease Centre and helped set up the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Huntington's disease (HD). She leads an internationally recognised basic bench science and translational research team focused on understanding mechanism, validating targets and finding disease-modifying therapies for HD. She was PI on the first successful phase 1/2b trial of an antisense oligonucleotide, and currently serves on several SABs advising industry on the development of potential gene targeting and nucleic acid therapies for Huntington’s disease. Sarah’s research has been recognised by numerous major prizes including the 2019 Yahr Award, 2022 Osler Medal, 2022 HD Society of America Research Award, the 2022 MRC Millennium Medal, the 2023 Arvid Carlsson Award and in 2024 she was elected both to the Fellowship of the Royal Society and the US National Academy of Medicine. Prof Gabriel Balmus (Group Leader, UK DRI at Cambridge) Interested in the mechanisms controlling the maintenance of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in mature neurons, Prof Gabriel Balmus joined the UK DRI at Cambridge in 2018. Obtaining his PhD in Molecular and Integrative Physiology in 2013 at Cornell University, USA, he went on to complete postdoctoral training at the Gurdon Institute at University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. His work has revealed critical mechanisms by which DNA repair proteins like FAN1 either protect against or promote toxic repeat expansions in Huntington's disease and related disorders, opening new therapeutic avenues. As a UK DRI Group Leader, Gabriel brings his wealth of expertise to research genomic instability in neurodegenerative diseases. Chair- Dr Tom Massey (Group Leader, UK DRI at Cardiff) Dr Tom Massey is a clinical academic Neurologist, whose research focuses on genetic modifiers and therapeutic targets for Huntington’s disease (HD). Dr Massey studied Biochemistry at Cambridge University, before completing his PhD at Oxford in mechanisms of DNA repair. He then trained in Medicine at Oxford University, before beginning a Welsh Clinical Academic Training Fellowship in Neurology in 2013. He was awarded a Clinical Research Training Fellowship from the MRC to develop a programme of research into genetic modifiers of HD. In 2021, he completed his neurology training and became a Consultant Neurologist, and was then award an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship to further develop his work on genetic modifiers and therapeutic targets for HD. Dr Massey joined the UK DRI in Cardiff as a Group Leader in 2023.