NeuroD1 as a modulator of hippocampal neurogenesis in human models of Alzheimer´s disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease for which, currently, no cure is available. This lack of success could be at least partly explained by the lack of models that fully recapitulate human cellular pathology. In this project, we aim to generate and characterize novel in vitro and in vivo patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) - based models of AD. Once the models are developed, the efficacy of a gene therapy approach, which consists in overexpression of NeuroD1 transcription factor in the transplanted cells, will be evaluated. In addition to providing a novel model of AD to study how cellular pathology progresses in human cells over time, the project will allow to further test and validate a gene candidate therapy approach, in vivo. The project has the potential to lead to the discovery of biomarkers of the disease in addition to offering a novel model for evaluating other therapies or to develop them.