Cell biology of neurological diseases
Shawn Ferguson's research aims to deepen our understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying neurological diseases. The Ferguson Lab studies how cells sense and regulate lysosome function to meet changing cellular demands. Leveraging microscopy, biochemical assays, protein-protein interaction analysis, and genetic manipulation of mouse models, the lab explores critical issues related to membrane traffic, organelle biogenesis, and signaling. In recent years, the lab has expanded its research to human models by utilizing genome editing tools and protocols for differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into specialized nervous system cells. This approach allows the team to directly investigate the cell biology of neurological diseases in human systems. Current research includes fundamental studies on the role of C9orf72 and its binding partners at lysosomes, as well as projects exploring the involvement of lysosomes in Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Parkinson's disease. Recently, the discovery of human mutations in the MAPK8IP3 (JIP3) gene, linked to a neurodevelopmental disorder, has aligned with the lab's interest in JIP3's role in lysosome axonal transport. Inspired by these genetic findings, the Ferguson Lab is focused on uncovering the relationship between lysosome axonal transport and brain development.
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Biography
Ferguson earned a bachelor's (1997) and master's (1999) degrees from the University of Ottawa. His doctoral studies in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University (PhD awarded in 2004) focused on membrane traffic mechanisms that support cholinergic neurotransmission. After postdoctoral research with Pietro De Camilli, he started his lab at Yale in 2010. His love of biology extends into the natural world, where he loves to explore the forests and shorelines of Connecticut.