About SUNY REACH Neural Degeneration and Regeneration
With increasing longevity and improving of health care, our society is experiencing
an unprecedented challenge posed by neurodegenerative diseases. More than four
million Americans are suffering from Alzheimer's disease; this number is projected
to balloon to 10-15 million over the next several decades. Combining this situation
with the ravages caused by other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's,
multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is easy to understand
the urgency to find cures for these devastating disorders. In contrast to many
acute diseases, neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the chronic
deterioration of the patients, placing huge burdens both emotionally and financially
on their families. As a consequence, our aging society is spending tremendous
amount of resources in palliative care of patients with neurodegenerative disorders,
as there is no cure for any of these diseases at present.
To reach a fundamental solution for this long-term problem, it is necessary for
us to understand the root cause of neurodegeneration and develop novel therapies
based on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. To
that end, researchers in the Neural Degeneration and Regeneration team use
revolutionary stem cell technologies along with other in vivo and in vitro discovery
tools seeking the cause and a cure for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's
disease, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis. Our ultimate goal is to
slow down, and ultimately to prevent, the neurodegeneration process and regenerate
the damaged nervous system.
Contact Us
Jian Feng, PhD Group Leader