Neurodegenerative Diseases

The “Neurodegenerative Diseases” research area under the scientific direction of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ralf Braun studies molecular and cellular changes and causes of age-related protein misfolding diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and motor neuron diseases. The work group investigates the molecular mechanisms of how cells deal with disease-associated and misfolding proteins that are considered to be the cause of neurodegenerative diseases. Simple cellular model systems are used, especially baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which can be characterised excellently in molecular, cell-biological and biochemical terms and which can be genetically manipulated very easily. These models are particularly suitable for the elucidation of evolutionarily conserved molecular processes, which are potentially relevant for the toxicity or detoxification of misfolded disease-associated proteins. 

Univ.-Prof. Dr. habil. Ralf Braun
Co-Director of the Bachelor’s Programme in Human Medicine (BSc)
Email: ralf.braun@dp-uni.ac.at