Decoding DNA With Dr. Jessica Rexach

The causes of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) remain one of the biggest mysteries of the disease. Dr. Jessica Rexach and her team at UCLA have been scouring sequencing data from over 10,000 individuals searching for clues in the DNA that could explain how changes in the immune system might influence why some individuals develop the disease. Dr. Rexach spoke to me about the crucial role that the immune system seems to play in disease progression, the intriguing similarities and differences between PSP and Alzheimer's, and what can be learned from the success of immune system therapeutics in cancer and autoimmune disease.
 
Supported by CurePSP’s Pathway Grant Program, Dr. Rexach’s project aims to piece together a picture of the altered messengers of the immune system that could pave the way for future immune-based therapies. Read more about her study here.