Establishment of a Preclinical Model of a Rare Neurodegenerative Disorder
A new model of a rare neurodegenerative disease needs exploring!
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 (symptomatology) 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.
Learning outcomes
The specific outcomes of this project will be identified by the faculty mentor at the beginning of your collaboration.
Project details
| Length of commitment | Longer than a semester; 6-9 months |
| Start time | Anytime |
| In-person, remote, or hybrid? | In-Person |
| Level of collaboration | Small group project (2-3 students) |
| Benefits | Potential academic credit, work study, and/or 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
- 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.)
- 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. After you’re approved to begin the project, your mentor will send the relevant materials. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
- Attending workshops and trainings
- IACUC Training
Keywords
neurodegeneration, aging, Pharmacology and Toxicology, neuroscience, neurobiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences