SUMMARY
The research of Suelen Lucio Boschen De Souza, Ph.D., advances the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. In her work, she optimizes and develops novel strategies for disease-modifying neuromodulation.
Dr. Boschen combines basic neuroscience mechanistic investigations of disease-modifying invasive and noninvasive neuromodulation. This allows her to create translational opportunities to validate therapeutic outcomes. Translational medicine connects medical research with clinical treatment.
Dr. Boschen's research applies multidisciplinary and innovative technology from cellular and animal models of neurodegeneration to antemortem and postmortem translational studies. She uses molecular, cellular, neural systems, behavioral and omics strategies.
Focus areas
Neuroprotective therapies for Parkinson's disease. Current medicines that treat Parkinson's disease focus primarily on symptoms management and do not slow the progression of the disease. Ultimately, treatments become less effective as individuals move into more-advanced stages of the disease.
Research, for Parkinson's disease, is examining deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus, which functions via several nonexclusive mechanisms. These mechanisms include local and networkwide effects of neuronal and glial stimulation.
Dr. Boschen unravels the full potential of DBS as a disease-modifying strategy. She does this by exploring the mechanisms that contribute to neuroprotective effects so that DBS parameters and protocols can be optimized for clinical applications.
The role of senescence in synucleinopathies. Senescence is a homeostatic process in which cells remain metabolically active despite reaching an irreversible nondividing state. Prolonged senescence can be maladaptive given that senescent cells can no longer maintain tissue function or repair damage. These factors contribute to cancer development and age-related diseases, including a group of neurodegenerative disorders called synucleinopathies.
Dr. Boschen studies the relative contribution of senescence in neuronal and glial cell neurodegenerative synucleinopathies. These diseases include Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. Dr. Boschen explores senolytic strategies for these disorders.
Significance to patient care
Currently, neuroprotective therapies for synucleinopathies do not exist. This is because there is a lack of reliable biomarkers for an early diagnosis. The absence of early markers prevents timely treatment to halt further neurodegeneration.
Dr. Boschen uses a translational approach to characterize the molecular, cellular and networkwide mechanisms of action for potential neuroprotective therapeutics. Dr. Boschen's research ultimately aims to develop novel and optimized therapeutic strategies that will slow down the progression of neurodegeneration. This improves the quality of life, health and life span for people who have these diseases.