Karl Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Biology of Aging Research 

During aging, most organisms have a greater load of damaged or misfolded proteins to target for degradation. This condition is exacerbated by a decline in the efficacy of proteolytic machinery and leads to an accrual of the aggregation-prone cytotoxic proteins that underlie several age-associated pathologies (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, sarcopenia). We study these pathologies in the lab using the C. elegans worm as a model organism.

Associated Diseases: Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, any age-related disease

Techniques Used: C. elegans research (genetics, RNAi), microscopy (including confocal, two-photon), cell culture, biochemistry, molecular biology

Specific Field of Study: Neurodegenrative Disease

Sub-Field of Study: Protein Homeostasis