Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease

This research seeks to understand and identify predictive functional relationships in neurodegenerative diseases, specifically traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). TBI is a leading cause of death in persons under the age of 45, and AD is the leading cause of dementia and a leading cause of death in persons over the age of 65. Despite the apparent difference in relevant populations, previous research has shown links between the two as well as between each disease and age. Sustaining a TBI or multiple TBIs is a risk factor for developing AD later in life, and research has shown molecular similarities in pathology and symptoms between the two.

In collaboration with Professor Marta Lipinski, PhD, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Professors Maureen Kane, PhD and Jace Jones, PhD, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, we apply interpretable machine learning tools to cell- and organelle-type specific data sets spanning lipids and proteins in order to understand these diseases. These data sets are rich but complex, presenting many challenges to analysis including batch effects, multiple covariates, and a large feature space. We seek to use machine learning methods intelligently and creatively to overcome these challenges.

Our ultimate goal in this research is to generate testable hypotheses about mechanisms contributing to aging under normal and disease conditions and the identification of appropriate interventions.

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Yi Chen
PhD Student
Biological Sciences Graduate Program

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