Pioneering INNOVATIVE Solutions for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Dr. Moussa is the Director of the GUMC Translational Neurotherapeutics Program and the Laboratory for Dementia and Parkinsonism. He is the Principal Investigator of the Lewy Body Disease Association Research Center of Excellence. His expertise is in geriatric neurology with special focus on movement and memory disorders, and he is a neuroscientist focused on autophagy. Dr. Moussa is a clinical trialist and a translational neuroscience investigator who has designed and completed a number of Phase 1-3 trials in AD, PD, LBD and HD and generated several compounds known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors that can potentially be used as a therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. He discovered the potential use of cancer drugs, including nilotinib and bosutinib as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and identified a novel drug target known as discoidin domain receptor (DDR)-1 that can induce autophagic clearance of misfolded proteins in preclinical and clinical settings. Dr. Moussa is an expert on tyrosine kinase inhibitors and their promising effects on neurodegenerative pathologies. Dr. Moussa is published widely in peer reviewed scientific and medical journals on the mechanisms, diagnostics, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Chehin, a Principal Researcher at the Argentinian National Research Council (CONICET) and full Professor at UNT, is also the mentor, founding member, and current Director of IMMCA (Instituto de Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada). Under her leadership, IMMCA has transformed into a hub for cutting-edge research, particularly in advancing our understanding of the molecular aspects of Parkinson's Disease. Her research delves into exploring the neuroprotective potential of tetracyclines, not only aiming to comprehend and leverage existing capabilities but also innovating by developing novel dopaminergic agonists with enhanced neuroprotective activity. This comprehensive study significantly contributes valuable insights to the progress of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies for Parkinson's Disease. Dr. Chehin's impactful research has successfully explored tetracyclic derivatives as the basis for a recently patented, advanced generation of therapeutic and diagnostic technology. Her career is further distinguished by the successful acquisition of national and international grants, pivotal in establishing state-of-the-art facilities at IMMCA. Her contributions extend to peer-reviewed scientific publications and mentoring roles for doctoral theses and young researchers at IMMCA.

Dr. Oscar Varela is a Consultant Professor of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires (FCEN-UBA) and Superior Researcher of the Argentinian National Research Council (CONICET). His research interest is mainly focused on the enantioselective synthesis of natural or biologically active products (including enzyme inhibitors) by using carbohydrates as a source of chirality. Additionally, he is investigating on the synthesis, characterization and applications of environmentally friendly polymers obtained from natural sources, mostly carbohydrates. He has recently successfully developed (and patented) the synthesis of hybrid molecules consisting of a tetracycline and dopamine, which have proven to be promising therapies for Parkinson's disease. These studies open the way to a new generation of therapeutic and diagnostic agents for the disease. His research gave rise to more than a hundred scientific articles, and books, book chapters, and patents have also been published. He has carried out research agreements with the private industry and he is currently participating in others. He has supervised doctoral thesis and scholarship holders. He served as Academic Secretary of the FCEN-UBA (1996-1998). He was Representative of Argentina in the International Carbohydrate Organization (1996-2022) and member of the Editorial Committee of the scientific publication Carbohydrate Research (Editorial Elsevier, 1996-2004). He was Director of the Carbohydrate Research Center (CIHIDECAR-CONICET-UBA, 2001-2017), Director of the Department of Organic Chemistry (FCEN-UBA, 1999-2004, 2008- 2012) and Director and Pedagogical Representative of the Argentine Chemistry Olympiad Program (2015-2020). He received the following distinctions: Konex Award 2003. Consecration in Chemistry Award from the National Academy of Sciences of Argentina 2023, Member of the Committee for Selection of Konex Awards in 2013 and 2023.

Dr. Ploper is an adjunct researcher at the Argentinian National Research Council (CONICET) and founding member at IMMCA (Instituto de Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada). Originally trained as a chemist, he earned his PhD at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) thanks to a Fulbright Scholarship under the supervision of the renowned cell biologist Eddy De Robertis. In this Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) funded lab, he studied early embryonic development, cell signaling in cancer, and transcriptomics. His most important contribution was the discovery that MITF, a melanoma oncogene, regulates lysosomal biogenesis, and this drives malignancy. Upon his return to Argentina, he joined the team that later formed IMMCA, a translational science-oriented institute, to study the basic biology, novel therapeutics and innovative diagnostics for Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative Diseases. Dr. Ploper currently supervises graduate and postdoctoral students, collaborates with the biotech industry, and is Head of the Microscopy Core and Cell Culture Facility at IMMCA.