Fellowship in Neurological and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Fellowship Director
Vivian Y. H. Hook, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology
Departments of Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Medicine
UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research Background

Dr. Hook investigates protease mechanisms required for production of (1) peptide neurotransmitters in the brain for pain and CNS functions in neurological diseases, and (2) neurotoxic peptides in neurodegenerative diseases of Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. Her group recently discovered a novel drug target for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

The protease research for production of biologically active peptides for brain function in neurological conditions utilizes interdisciplinary approaches in peptide/protein biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, mass spectrometry and proteomics, drug target discovery, and drug screening.

This research on neuroproteases includes those involved in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. The protease research strives to understand their regulatory roles in producing active peptides in health and disease. More information available at: Vivian Y. H. Hook profile

Fellowship Program Objectives: Discover novel targets and potentially new drugs for:

SuperGene Family Proteases for Neuropeptide Ligands of G-Protein Coupled Receptors in Neuroendocrine Functions: Targets for Opioid Modulation in Therapeutics for Pain Relief.
The laboratory of Dr. Hook is interested in proteases as drug targets for analgesia and pain relief, utilized in the treatment of neurological diseases for pain management. Proteases represent key drug targets to modulate the production endogenous opioid neuropeptide for pain relief, as well as the production of diverse neuropeptides that each specifically regulate physiological conditions of neurological functions, endocrinology, hypertension, cancer, and others. Research on proteases as drug targets will be advantageous for investigation of protease therapeutics in disease.
Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutics
Alzheimer's disease is a growing condition that is affecting the increasing aged population. At the present time, there is no cure for this devastating disease that results in memory deficits. Elucidation of new targets for drug therapeutics is essential for development of effective drugs for this disease.

The beta-amyloid peptide is a major factor involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Hook's research focuses on the protease mechanisms responsible for production of beta-amyloid. These beta-amyloid producing proteases are logical drug targets for reducing beta-amyloid in the disease, to result in improvement in memory function.

Research is also being conducted on the proteases' intracellular environment through proteomic studies with mass spectrometry. Intracellular proteins that regulate proteases in the production of beta-amyloid can lead to novel therapeutics.

3. Huntington disease
Proteases are key mechanisms for generating neurotoxic, mutant huntington protein fragments in Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative condition. The expertise of the Hook lab for research on proteases of the nervous system can be applied to finding new protease drug targets, leading to discovery of novel drug therapeutics for this neurodegenerative disease.

Coursework and training on: Pain mechanisms and analgesics. Neurodegenerative diseases and brain functions.

Unique skills fellows will acquire during the program:

Learn a diverse array of laboratory approaches including Interdisciplinary approaches that are utilized in enzyme biochemistry, proteomics, and molecular and cell biology, and genetics.
Conceive, pursue, present, and publish original investigations

Time allocation: Two years