Welcome to the McConlogue Lab

Areas of investigation
Our laboratory focuses on both understanding the mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration driven by misfolding-prone proteins and in developing therapeutic approaches to treat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases (AD and PD). We are particularly interested in understanding the pathogenic role and functional perturbation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP) that, due to their unique structural characteristics and key functional roles, lead to diseases of amyloid- type misfolding including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Our current focus is on understanding and blocking the pathogenic processes of alpha- Synuclein (ASyn), an IDP that plays a central role in PD and also contributes to AD. We are taking a variety of chaperone approaches to ameliorate misfolding and malfunction of ASyn for the purpose of elucidating disease relevant pathogenic mechanisms and developing therapies to treat PD, AD and related diseases. In one approach we are developing small molecules that act as chaperones restoring the native structure and function of ASyn under disease conditions and in another we are targeting the cellular chaperone machinery to prevent ASyn misfolding and associated pathology.

Laboratory Positions open
A Research Specialist opportunity is available in our lab in identifying therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. See Laboratory Opportunities tab for details!