This research team focuses on developing novel diagnostic tools for neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal protein aggregation, and to develop new therapeutic strategies for their treatment. Such diseases include Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia (LBD), Alzheimer's disease, and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Their studies seek to develop novel biomarker diagnostic approaches and new therapeutics tools that can prevent the neurotoxic processes that contribute to the pathogenesis of these common neurodegenerative diseases, in particular the alpha-synucleopathies.
The team is commonly known for its research on biomarkers discovery and the development of disease-specific antibodies that can be used for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. Their work extends from the development of novel diagnostic tools and their applications in clinical studies to technology transfer and commercialization.
The group also studies neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which affects about 1% of the global population. ASD creates a significant public health burden in different communities including Qatar, where ASD incidence is about 1.4% in the growing young population. Their research efforts are aimed at discovering novel biomarkers that can be used as diagnostic tools for the early detection of ASD and could facilitate the development of clinical targets for early intervention.