My primary research focus is on understanding the molecular mechanisms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer disease (AD). Our strategy involves the use of patient derived cellular models. To date we have generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from FTD and ALS/FTD patients carrying mutations in progranulin, C9ORF72, TDP-43 and MAPT, as well as lines from healthy controls. I have differentiated these iPSCs into post-mitotic cortical and motor neurons and applied a variety of approaches to uncover underlying molecular and cellular defects. This approach allows the interrogation of patient-derived neurons in the appropriate, differentiated context, leading to a better understanding of how ALS/FTD mutations impact cellular physiology, resulting in their pathogenic consequences. We are also using a gene editing approach to create CHMP2B mutant iPSCs that can be differentiated into a cellular model for the study of AD cellular pathogenesis. I am particularly interested in exploring and testing potential therapeutic interventions to halt or slow the progression of these and related diseases.