WMCWeill Medical College of Cornell University · Neuroscience
The Chaperone Nexus
Manu Sharma · New York, New York
Research Focus
Dr. Manu Sharma's lab focuses on understanding the role of molecular chaperones in regulating tau protein levels and preventing the aggregation seen in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. By investigating how these chaperones and their complexes interact with tau, the lab aims to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Using a combination of in vitro neuron models and in vivo mouse models, the lab seeks to uncover new mechanisms that could contribute to tackling the tauopathies associated with aging populations.
tau proteinchaperone complexesneurodegenerationAlzheimer's diseasetauopathiesproteostasismouse modelsfundamental neurosciencepathogenicity
Research Aims
5AIM 01Identify common molecular mechanisms regulating tau proteostasis in neurodegenerative diseases.
AIM 02Determine how chaperone complexes influence tau aggregation and neurodegeneration.
AIM 03Investigate the role of Hsc70 and co-chaperones in tau pathology.
AIM 04Manipulate tau pathology using viral approaches to regulate chaperone levels.
AIM 05Establish relevance of findings using patient brain samples to inform therapeutic targets.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsCRISPR/Cas9 gene editingstereotactic injectionsmass spectrometryRNA isolationimmunohistochemistryprimary neuron cultureWestern blotting
Output against the department
Publications162top 45% of dept.304th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations22ktop 18% of dept.124th of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.