Alzheimer's and Aging Research Center/Scientists



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	Sylvie E. Blondelle, Ph.D. Biochemistry/Microbiology sblondelle@alz-aging-research.org Sylvie Blondelle received her Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Montpellier, France, in 1988. She began her postdoctoral research at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in 1988 studying antimicrobial peptides in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Houghten. In 1989, she left Scripps and joined the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies (TPIMS) where she has been since its inception. Her research, funded by the Alzheimer's and Aging Research Center, involves the development and novel model systems and strategies for the identification of lead compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's. The use of simple aqueous soluble polyalanine-based peptides combined with synthetic combinatorial library (SCL) approaches is being investigated to develop strategies to identify inhibitors of plaque formation in the brain. At the present time, Dr. Blondelle is head of the biochemistry/microbiology department at TPIMS.
	Ronald T. Ogata, Ph.D. Molecular Immunology rogata@alz-aging-research.org Ronald Ogata earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Stanford University. He carried out his postdoctoral studies in Molecular biology at Harvard University. He was an Assistant Member at The Scripps Research Institute and a member of the Medical Biology Institute before joining TPIMS in 1998. Dr. Ogata's research program is focused on a group of 30 proteins that are found in the bloodstreams of humans and other mammals. The primary function of these proteins is to defend the body against infection. The overall goal of the study is to obtain molecular pictures of the series of interactions that occur among the proteins during the recognition and killing of foreign cells. Such pictures would add to the understanding of how proteins recognize each other, and are essential for practical applications such as designing drugs that enhance activity. Uncontrolled activation of these proteins can cause acute and chronic inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, heart attacks and Alzheimer's disease.
	Alan B. Kleinfeld, Ph.D. Membrane Biology akleinfeld@alz-aging-research.org Alan Kleinfeld received his doctorate in nuclear physics from Rutgers University and has held positions at leading institutions around the world including the University of Cologne (Germany), the Weizmann Institute (Israel), Yale University and Harvard Medical School. He served as Member in the Division of Membrane Biology of Medical Biology Institute (MBI) before joining TPIMS in 1998. Dr. Kleinfeld’s research focuses on a group of molecules known as free fatty acids (FFA). It is a well-documented fact that patients experiencing a heart attack or stroke exhibit elevated blood levels of FFA yet no fast, inexpensive, sensitive method exists to measure them. Dr. Kleinfeld’s lab is devoted to developing such a method utilizing a fluorescent molecular probe to measure levels of unbound FFA in the blood for early detection of ischemia, the initial event in a heart attack or stroke. Ischemia signals interruption of blood flow to the brain or heart. Studies estimate early detection and treatment of ischemia can reduce mortality from heart attack and stroke by 50 to 90%. Measurement of blood FFA may serve as an additional diagnostic aide by helping to predict which ischemic patients are at the greatest risk for death and major hemorrhagic events.
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