Brenda Shivers Lecture May 2022

Invited Speaker 

Dr. Xinglong Wang
Harriet and Lazier Singer Professor of Experimental Neurosciences
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE

Biography

Dr. Wang obtained a Ph.D. in Pathology from the Case Western Reserve University, after which he completed his postdoctoral work there as well. He subsequently worked as an instructor there and obtained a faculty position in 2013. In 2020, he moved to the University of Nebraska Medical Center where he was named the Harriet and Lazier Singer Professor of Experimental Neurosciences. He has received many academic honors and holds several patents.

Abstract

"Mitochondria as a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases"

Mitochondria, highly dynamic organelles found in most eukaryotic cells, are essential for neuronal survival and function. Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been recognized as a prominent pathological feature of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This presentation will focus on the role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of AD, FTD, and ALS. I will first discuss our research characterizing mitochondrial abnormalities in these devastating diseases. Then, I will present the results of our recent studies supporting the feasibility of targeting mitochondria or mitochondria-associated proteins for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease in cell and animal models. Finally, I will briefly discuss our perspectives for future mitochondria-related research in neurodegeneration.