Elif Pinar Coskun, MD
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JAD profile
Affiliation(s):
UC Irvine
ORCID URL:
Areas of Interest:
neurodegeneration, mitochondrial dysfunction, innate immunity, aging, longevity, cognitive impairments, drug trials, epidemiology
Biography & Research:
Over the last 20 years, I have been studying the involvement of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations and mitochondrial pathophysiology in neurodegenerative diseases using human cells/tissues and animal model systems. I have initiated and carried out numerous experiments on biomarker investigation targeting mtDNA mutations, metabolic profiling and neuropathological evaluation of aging and neurodegenerative diseases with specific emphasis on Alzheimer’s Disease, Down Syndrome and Parkinson’s Disease. In order to perform patient-specific and disease-specific analyses using human primary neural cells, I have generated and utilized induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from Down syndrome and familial British and Danish dementia patients. Moreover, over the last 2 years, I have been working at UCI Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) as a Research Physician seeing individuals with normal aging or different types of dementia. This clinical experience has made a tremendous impact in my research towards developing efficient translational outcomes. Currently, my main research focus is on finding biomarkers to predict dementia, as well as understanding the role of prospective biomarkers in the development of dementia in Alzheimer Disease and Down Syndrome. To reach this goal, I have taken an integrative approach incorporating cellular, biochemical and state-of-the-art biomedical methodology (e.g., iPSCs and next generation whole genome RNA/DNA sequencing). In addition, I have been interested in mitochondrial involvement in innate immunity and neurodegeneration. To reach this goal, I have been investigating TLR9, NLRP3 proteins, inflammasome activation and mitochondrial involvement in AD models.
