Ted M. Dawson

Targeted α-Synuclein mRNA Degradation by PMO-Based RNA-Degrading Chimeras

This paper develops PMO-based RNA-degrading chimeras that target SNCA mRNA to reduce α-synuclein levels and prevent pathological aggregation in vitro and in vivo.

Multiscale brain-wide mapping of α-synuclein-driven dopaminergic degeneration and white matter impairment in α-synucleinopathy mice

This paper maps α-synuclein pathology and dopaminergic degeneration in mice using multimodal imaging and microscopy, showing spread along the nigrostriatal pathway and microstructural changes.

Gut-Initiated Alpha Synuclein Fibrils Drive Parkinson's Disease Phenotypes: Temporal Mapping of non-Motor Symptoms and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

This study shows that gut-to-brain propagation of alpha-synuclein fibrils induces REM sleep behavior disorder and other non-motor and motor Parkinson's disease phenotypes.

Reactive Astrocytes Drive Extracellular Acidification to Mediate α-Synuclein Neurodegeneration

This study identifies a mechanism by which reactive astrocytes drive neurodegeneration in synucleinopathies through extracellular acidification and neuronal ASIC1a activation.

Microglial Lag3 Drives α-Synuclein--induced Neurotoxic Activated (A1) Astrocytes and Neurodegeneration

This study identifies microglial Lag3 as a key receptor linking extracellular α-synuclein PFF recognition to neurotoxic astrocyte conversion and dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

Neuronal PARIS-STAT3 axis drives tau pathology and glial activation in Alzheimers disease

This study shows that PARIS in neurons activates STAT3, leading to tau pathology and glial activation in Alzheimer's disease, and identifies the PARIS-STAT3 pathway as a therapeutic target.

Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 Deficiency Attenuates Amyloid Pathology, Neurodegeneration, and Cognitive Decline in a Familial Alzheimer Disease Model

This study shows PARP1 inhibition reduces amyloid pathology, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Copper-Containing ROS-Scavenging Nanozyme Paradoxically Drives Alpha-Synucleinopathy by Amplifying Nitrosative Stress

The paper shows a copper-containing nanozyme worsens alpha-synucleinopathy by increasing nitrosative stress, while a copper-free version reduces pathology in neurodegenerative models.

Spatially Organized IGF1 mTOR Signaling Controls Human Forebrain Progenitor Fate Through Coordinated Transcriptional and Translational Programs

This study identifies a spatially organized IGF1-mTOR signaling mechanism in human forebrain progenitors that regulates proliferation and fate through transcriptional and translational control.

APOE genotype confers context dependent neurovascular vulnerability in immune-vascularized human forebrain organoids

This study shows that APOE genotype affects neurovascular vulnerability in human forebrain organoids under viral stress, with APOE2/2 and APOE4/4 showing distinct inflammatory and vascular responses.

Dissecting the molecular landscape of Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's disease dementia using highly efficient snRNA-seq (HIF-snRNA-seq)

This study uses HiF-snRNA-seq to analyze the cingulate cortex in Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's disease dementia, identifying cell-type-specific gene expression changes and disease-stage-related pathways.

Neuronal LAG3 facilitates pathogenic α-synuclein neuron-to-neuron propagation

This study shows neuronal LAG3 is essential for α-synuclein propagation and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease, suggesting LAG3 as a therapeutic target.

Cryo-EM Structure of AAA + ATPase Thorase Reveals Novel Helical Filament Formation

The paper determines the cryo-EM structure of Thorase filaments, showing how ATP binding drives filament formation and provides insights into its role in disassembling mTORC1 complexes.

α-Synuclein Strain Dynamics Predict Cognitive Transitions in Parkinson's Disease

The paper identifies distinct α-synuclein strains associated with cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease and shows AI-based analysis of these strains improves clinical stratification.

Alpha-Synuclein pathology disrupts mitochondrial function in dopaminergic and cholinergic neurons at-risk in Parkinsons disease

This study shows that alpha-synuclein pathology disrupts mitochondrial function in dopaminergic and cholinergic neurons, leading to bioenergetic deficits and neuronal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.

Poly ADP-Ribose Signaling is Dysregulated in Huntington Disease Patients

The paper identifies a deficient PAR response in Huntington disease patients, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for early intervention.

Poly(ADP-ribose) mediates bioenergetic defects and redox imbalance in neurons following oxygen and glucose deprivation

This study investigates how PARP-1 activation and PAR binding to HK-1 impair glycolysis, mitochondrial function, and redox balance in neurons under oxygen-glucose deprivation.

Pathologic α-Synuclein-NOD2 Interaction and RIPK2 Activation Drives Microglia-Induced Neuroinflammation in Parkinson's Disease

This paper identifies NOD2/RIPK2 signaling as a key driver of neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease, showing that pathological α-synuclein activates this pathway in microglia, leading to neurodegeneration and that targeting NOD2 or RIPK2 protects dopamine neurons.

Pathological Tau transmission initiated by binding lymphocyte-activation gene 3

This study identifies Lag3 as a neuronal receptor for Tau preformed fibrils, essential for their uptake, propagation, and transmission in Tauopathies.

Biomarker discovery in progressive supranuclear palsy from human cerebrospinal fluid using mass spectrometry-based proteomics

The paper identifies potential biomarkers for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in cerebrospinal fluid using proteomics, finding ATP6AP2 as the top performer in distinguishing PSP from Parkinson's Disease and controls.

Defects in Mitochondrial Biogenesis Drive Mitochondrial Alterations in PINK1-deficient Human Dopamine Neurons

This study shows that defects in mitochondrial biogenesis, not mitophagy, are the primary cause of mitochondrial alterations in PINK1-deficient human dopamine neurons.

Identification of a sex-specific genetic signature in dementia with Lewy bodies: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies

This paper performs a large meta-analysis of GWAS in dementia with Lewy bodies, identifying sex-specific genetic risk signals and highlighting the need for larger cohorts.

Enhanced mTORC1 signaling and Protein Synthesis in Parkinson Disease Pathogenesis

This study identifies that pathological α-synuclein destabilizes the TSC1-TSC2 complex, activates mTORC1, and enhances protein translation, contributing to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease.

Molecular recording of calcium signaling via calcium-dependent protein proximity labeling

This paper introduces Cal-ID, a tool that records calcium signaling and neuronal activity by biotinylating nearby proteins, enabling high-resolution molecular mapping.

Large-scale Phenotypic Drug Screen Identifies Neuroprotectants in Zebrafish and Mouse Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa

The paper identifies neuroprotective compounds for retinitis pigmentosa using cross-species drug screens in zebrafish and mouse models, finding additive effects in some combinations.

Complement and coagulation cascades are potentially involved in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in alpha-synuclein-based mouse models of Parkinson's disease

The paper identifies complement and coagulation cascade pathways as significantly altered in two Parkinson's disease mouse models through proteome analysis.

Aplp1 and the Aplp1-Lag3 Complex facilitates transmission of pathologic alpha-synuclein

The paper identifies Aplp1 and its complex with Lag3 as facilitators of pathologic alpha-synuclein transmission and toxicity, showing that disrupting this complex prevents neurodegeneration.

ACE2-expressing endothelial cells in aging mouse brain

The paper identifies ACE2-expressing endothelial and mural cells in mouse brains and links their functional changes to age-related vulnerability to viral infection.

Genome sequencing analysis identifies new loci associated with Lewy body dementia and provides insights into the complex genetic architecture

This paper identifies five new genetic risk loci for Lewy body dementia through whole-genome sequencing and shows shared risk profiles with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Genetic modifiers of risk and age at onset in GBA associated Parkinson disease and Lewy body dementia

The paper identifies genetic modifiers of risk and age at onset in GBA-associated Parkinson disease and Lewy body dementia using large case-control datasets and genome-wide association studies.