Establishment of a Preclinical Model of a Rare Neurodegenerative Disorder

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A new model of a rare neurodegenerative disease needs exploring! 

Project is Not Currently Available

This project is not being offered for the current term. Please check back next semester for updates.

Project description

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare neurological disease of old age. It is often confused with Parkinson's Disease. There are no treatments for PSP and the mis-diagnosis of PSP as Parkinson's Disease delays proper care and support. Therefore, our lab has designed and is now characterizing an animal model that will be used to discover therapeutics and improve diagnosis for PSP. Students will be involved in the analysis of pathology and MRI scans. There are clear hallmarks of PSP that our lab is quantifying at different ages in our animals. This data will eventually be combined with data of behavioral deficits (symptomology) for a longitudinal perspective in how the disease may progress in people. 

Project outcome

Students will be supported in submitting their data for presentation at local and national scientific meetings. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Longer than a semester; 6-9 months
Start time Spring (January/February 2025)
In-person, remote, or hybrid? In-Person Project (Can only function with in-person engagement)
Level of collaboration Small group project (2-3 students)
Benefits

Academic Credit

Work Study

Stipend

Who is eligible All undergraduate students 

Core partners

  • Roswell Park MRI Center 

Project mentor

Stewart Clark

Associate Professor

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Phone: (716) 829-3810

Email: stewartc@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

Keywords

neurodegeneration, aging, Pharmacology and Toxicology, neuroscience, neurobiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences