Ksenia V Kastanenka, Ph.D.


Assistant Investigator
Neurology, Mass General Research Institute
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Harvard Medical School
action potentials; alzheimer's disease; amyloid; avian proteins; axons; calcium; homeostasis; motor neurons; nerve tissue proteins; receptors gaba-a; rhodopsin; spinal cord; spinal nerves

Alzheimer’s disease has traditionally been viewed as a proteinopathy. However, recent evidence highlights circuit disruptions as part of the disease progression. We implement optogenetics to control activity within neuronal circuits and imaging with multiphoton microscopy to monitor circuit dynamics with the aim to dissect the role neural activity plays in onset and development of Alzheimer’s disease.

In an attempt to prevent and/or reverse the disorder, we have partnered with industry leaders to study the effects and mechanisms of action of Alzheimer’s therapeutics. We strongly believe that these translational studies are important for getting effective therapies to patients.