University of Pennsylvania · BiochemistryShorter Lab
James Shorter · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. James Shorter's lab at the University of Pennsylvania is focused on developing innovative RNA-based therapies to combat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS. Their research explores how short RNA molecules can prevent harmful changes in a protein called TDP-43, which is involved in many neurodegenerative disorders. By understanding and manipulating the behavior of TDP-43, they aim to create effective treatments that restore normal protein function and protect neurons from degeneration.
RNA therapeuticsTDP-43neurodegenerationAlzheimer's diseaseALSfrontotemporal dementiaantisense oligonucleotidesprotein aggregationhuman neuronsmouse models
Research Aims
3AIM 01Develop RNA oligonucleotides that prevent TDP-43 phase separation in vitro.
AIM 02Test the efficacy of modified RNAs in human neuronal models of TDP-43 proteinopathy.
AIM 03Evaluate the potential of oligonucleotides to reverse TDP-43 aggregation in patient-derived neurons and animal models.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA extraction and analysiscell culture techniquesoligonucleotide designCRISPR gene editingmolecular cloningin vivo mouse modelsWestern blottingfluorescence microscopyanalytical chemistryneuron isolation and culture
Output against the department
Publications290top 23% of dept.91st of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations27ktop 14% of dept.56th of 402
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.