MPS: Natalia Rodriguez-Muela – Brain organoids to unveil mechanisms of selective neural vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases

Motor neuron diseases are a group of disorders in which motor neurons (MNs) of the spinal cord and/or the motor cortex are the primary cell type affected where this perplexing feature can also be observed. The Rodriguez-Muela Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying selective MN death with a special focus at exploring the molecular basis of proteostasis failure – major causative event in neurodegeneration –, and at examining the contribution of cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous factors to the selective MN loss. The ultimate goal is to understand the molecular origin of this distinctive neuronal vulnerability to design effective therapeutics targeting specific neuronal subtypes or phases of the disease.