Home Department: Undeclared
Mentor: Tony Wyss-Coray (Neurology & Neurological Sciences)

"Identifying Age- and Region-Specific Microglial Resilience Mechanisms in Brain Aging"

Microglial dysfunction, characterized by lipid droplet accumulation, lysosomal impairment, and defective debris clearance, is a hallmark of brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet the mechanisms sustaining microglial resilience remain poorly understood. Ava will leverage an integrated multi-omics platform and the AD-protective P522R variant as a genetic entry point to investigate how P522R enhances microglial lipid metabolism and lysosomal function. Ava will analyze microglial gene and protein expression, cellular morphology, quantify lipid accumulation and phagocytic receptor activity, and compare region-specific microglial responses across brain regions. Understanding these mechanisms may reveal strategies to slow brain aging and reduce vulnerability to AD.