Grants per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
The overarching goal of our scientific work has been to define key molecular pathways in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration and to uncover novel targets for therapeutic development. We have focused on pathogenic mechanisms that are commonly altered in neurodegenerative disorders such as deficient degradation of aggregation-prone proteins and mitochondrial dysfunction. As a general strategy, we study rare genetic diseases with mutations in genes that play a role in these key mechanisms and pathways. Models of Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Gaucher’s disease have been utilized to examine if activation of cellular degradation pathways can lead to neuroprotection. To validate and study these findings in human neurons, we utilize induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) generated by reprogramming of patient-specific skin fibroblasts. These iPS cells are differentiated into specific neuronal subtypes in order to characterize the interplay of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors in disease pathogenesis. The ultimate goal of these studies is to develop targeted therapies for Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative disorders.
Certifications and Licenses
Neurology |
Training Experience
2000 | Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School |
2002 | Fellowship, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School |
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
MD, Medicine, University of Zagreb
… → 1992
Research interests keywords
- Aging
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Gene Regulation
- Movement Disorders
- Neurogenetics
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Parkinson’s Disease
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Training Program in Aging and Dementia
Vassar, R. J. (PD/PI), Vassar, R. J. (PD/PI), Weintraub, S. (PD/PI), Weintraub, S. (PD/PI), Allada, R. (Other), Allada, R. (Other), Bevan, M. D. (Other), Bevan, M. D. (Other), Caraveo Piso, G. (Other), Caraveo Piso, G. (Other), Carvill, G. L. (Other), Carvill, G. L. (Other), Chan, S. (Other), Chan, S. (Other), Contractor, A. (Other), Contractor, A. (Other), Disterhoft, J. F. (Other), Disterhoft, J. F. (Other), Dombeck, D. A. (Other), Dombeck, D. A. (Other), Dong, H. (Other), Dong, H. (Other), Ferreira, A. B. (Other), Ferreira, A. B. (Other), Flanagan, M. E. (Other), Flanagan, M. E. (Other), Gefen, T. D. (Other), Gefen, T. D. (Other), Geula, C. (Other), Geula, C. (Other), Gratton, C. (Other), Gratton, C. (Other), He, C. (Other), He, C. (Other), Kahnt, T. (Other), Kahnt, T. (Other), Kalb, R. G. (Other), Kalb, R. G. (Other), Kennedy, A. (Other), Kennedy, A. (Other), Kessler, J. (Other), Kessler, J. (Other), Kiskinis, E. (Other), Kiskinis, E. (Other), Klein, W. L. (Other), Klein, W. L. (Other), Kozorovitskiy, Y. (Other), Kozorovitskiy, Y. (Other), Krainc, D. (Other), Krainc, D. (Other), Li, L. (Other), Li, L. (Other), Mazzulli, J. (Other), Mazzulli, J. (Other), Mesulam, M.-M. (Other), Mesulam, M.-M. (Other), Miller, R. J. (Other), Miller, R. J. (Other), Morimoto, R. I. (Other), Morimoto, R. I. (Other), Opal, P. (Other), Opal, P. (Other), Ozdinler, H. (Other), Ozdinler, H. (Other), Paller, K. (Other), Paller, K. (Other), Parisiadou, L. (Other), Parisiadou, L. (Other), Penzes, P. (Other), Penzes, P. (Other), Pinto, L. (Other), Pinto, L. (Other), Prakriya, M. (Other), Prakriya, M. (Other), Reber, P. J. (Other), Reber, P. J. (Other), Roberts, A. L. (Other), Roberts, A. L. (Other), Rogalski, E. (Other), Rogalski, E. (Other), Savas, J. N. (Other), Savas, J. N. (Other), Surmeier Jr, D. J. (Other), Surmeier Jr, D. J. (Other), Swanson, G. T. (Other), Swanson, G. T. (Other), Voss, J. L. (Other), Voss, J. L. (Other), Zee, P. C. (Other), Zee, P. C. (Other), Zelano, C. (Other) & Zelano, C. (Other)
5/1/22 → 4/30/27
Project: Research project
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Mechanistic Analysis of Genetic Modifiers in Parkinson's Disease
Krainc, D. (PD/PI) & Krainc, D. (PD/PI)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
5/1/21 → 4/30/29
Project: Research project
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Neuronal roles of Parkinsons Disease Vps13C in regulating autophagy and calcium dynamics
Caraveo Piso, G. (PD/PI), Caraveo Piso, G. (PD/PI), Caraveo Piso, G. (PD/PI), Krainc, D. (PD/PI), Krainc, D. (PD/PI) & Krainc, D. (PD/PI)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
9/30/20 → 1/31/26
Project: Research project
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Nikon CSU W1 SoRa for the Center for Advanced Microscopy and Nikon Imaging Center at Northwestern University
Arvanitis, C. (PD/PI), Arispe, L. (Other), Chen, H. (Other), Gelfand, V. I. (Other), KIrchenbuechler, D. (Other), Krainc, D. (Other), Muller, W. A. (Other), Penzes, P. (Other), Varma, D. (Other) & Webber, J. L. (Other)
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health
4/1/23 → 3/31/24
Project: Research project
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Orbitrap Eclipse Mass Spectrometer for Northwestern University Neuroproteomic Collaboration Hub
Savas, J. N. (PD/PI), Caraveo Piso, G. (Other), Contractor, A. (Other), Disterhoft, J. F. (Other), Duncan, F. E. (Other), Foltz, D. R. (Other), Goel, R. (Other), Kafader, J. O. (Other), Kalb, R. G. (Other), Kelleher, N. L. (Other), Kiskinis, E. (Other), Krainc, D. (Other), Mendillo, M. L. (Other), Menichella, D. M. (Other), Penzes, P. (Other), Smith, G. A. (Other), Surmeier Jr, D. J. (Other), Vassar, R. J. (Other), Walsh, D. (Other) & Zelano, C. (Other)
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health
3/1/23 → 2/29/24
Project: Research project
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Commander complex regulates lysosomal function and is implicated in Parkinson's disease risk
Minakaki, G., Safren, N., Bustos, B. I., Lubbe, S. J., Mencacci, N. E. & Krainc, D., Apr 11 2025, In: Science. 388, 6743, p. 204-211 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Dysregulation of mitochondrial α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase leads to elevated lipid peroxidation in CHCHD2-linked Parkinson’s disease models
Gao, G., Shi, Y., Deng, H. X. & Krainc, D., Dec 2025, In: Nature communications. 16, 1, 1982.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Genome-wide epistasis analysis reveals significant epistatic signals associated with Parkinson’s disease risk
International Parkinson's Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC), Jun 1 2025, In: Brain. 148, 6, p. 2060-2074 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Novel In-Frame FGF14 Deletion Causes Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 27A: Clinical Response to Deep Brain Stimulation and 4-Aminopyridine
Keller Sarmiento, I. J., Bovenzi, R., Kinsinger, M., Kinsley, L., Bustos, B. I., Krainc, D. & Mencacci, N. E., Jun 2025, In: Movement Disorders. 40, 6, p. 1182-1188 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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A GNAI1 Pathogenic Variant in a Case with GNAO1-Isolated Dystonia: A Modifier of Disease Severity?
Monje, M. H. G., Blackburn, J. S., Kinsley, L., Krainc, D. & Mencacci, N. E., May 2024, In: Movement Disorders. 39, 5, p. 918-920 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
Open Access
Datasets
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Lipids bound lysosomal integral membrane protein 2
Conrad, K. S. (Contributor), Cheng, T.-W. (Contributor), Ysselstein, D. (Contributor), Heybrock, S. (Contributor), Hoth, L. R. (Contributor), Chrunyk, B. A. (Contributor), Am Ende, C. W. (Contributor), Krainc, D. (Contributor), Schwake, M. (Contributor), Saftig, P. (Contributor), Liu, S. (Contributor), Qiu, X. (Contributor) & Ehlers, M. D. (Contributor), Protein Data Bank (PDB), Dec 13 2017
DOI: 10.2210/pdb5UPH/pdb, https://www.wwpdb.org/pdb?id=pdb_00005uph
Dataset
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Crystal structure of glucocerebrosidase with an inhibitory quinazoline modulator
Zheng, J. (Contributor), Chen, L. (Contributor), Skinner, O. S. (Contributor), Ysselstein, D. (Contributor), Remis, J. (Contributor), Lansbury, P. (Contributor), Skerlj, R. (Contributor), Mrosek, M. (Contributor), Heunisch, U. (Contributor), Krapp, S. (Contributor), Charrow, J. (Contributor), Schwake, M. (Contributor), Kelleher, N. L. (Contributor), Silverman, R. B. (Contributor) & Krainc, D. (Contributor), Protein Data Bank (PDB), Oct 25 2017
DOI: 10.2210/pdb5LVX/pdb, https://www.wwpdb.org/pdb?id=pdb_00005lvx
Dataset
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Dominant mutations in MIEF1 affect mitochondrial dynamics and cause a singular late onset optic neuropathy
Charif, M. (Creator), Wong, Y. C. (Creator), Kim, S. (Contributor), Guichet, A. (Creator), Vignal, C. (Creator), Zanlonghi, X. (Creator), Bensaid, P. (Creator), Procaccio, V. (Creator), Bonneau, D. (Creator), Amati-Bonneau, P. (Creator), Reynier, P. (Creator), Krainc, D. (Creator) & Lenaers, G. (Creator), figshare, 2021
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5319642, https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Dominant_mutations_in_MIEF1_affect_mitochondrial_dynamics_and_cause_a_singular_late_onset_optic_neuropathy/5319642
Dataset
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Polygenic risk scores validated in patient-derived cells stratify for mitochondrial subtypes of Parkinson's disease
Arena, G. (Contributor), Landoulsi, Z. (Contributor), Grossmann, D. (Contributor), Vitali, A. (Contributor), Delcambre, S. (Contributor), Baron, A. (Contributor), Antony, P. (Contributor), Boussaad, I. (Contributor), Bobbili, D. R. (Contributor), Kumar Sreelatha, A. A. (Contributor), Pavelka, L. (Contributor), Klein, C. (Contributor), Seibler, P. (Contributor), Glaab, E. (Contributor), Sharma, M. (Contributor), Krüger, R. (Contributor), May, P. (Contributor), Grünewald, A. (Contributor), Hundt, A. (Contributor), Bisdorff, A. (Contributor), Sharify, A. (Contributor), Hanff, A.-M. (Contributor), Rauschenberger, A. (Contributor), Nicolai, B. (Contributor), Mollenhauer, B. (Contributor), Bellora, C. (Contributor), Moreno, C. (Contributor), Mediouni, C. (Contributor), Trefois, C. (Contributor), Pauly, C. (Contributor), Mackay, C. (Contributor), Gomes, C. (Contributor), Berg, D. (Contributor), Esteves, D. (Contributor), McIntyre, D. (Contributor), Reddy Bobbili, D. (Contributor), Rosales, E. (Contributor), Soboleva, E. (Contributor), Gómez De Lope, E. (Contributor), Thiry, E. (Contributor), Henry, E. (Contributor), Sandt, E. (Contributor), Wollscheid-Lengeling, E. (Contributor), Meisch, F. (Contributor), Mühlschlegel, F. (Contributor), Hammot, G. (Contributor), Acharya, G. (Contributor), Zelimkhanov, G. (Contributor), Contesotto, G. (Contributor), Aguayo, G. (Contributor), Marques, G. (Contributor), Berchem, G. (Contributor), Fagherazzi, G. (Contributor), Thien, H. (Contributor), Liepelt, I. (Contributor), Rosety, I. (Contributor), Jaroslaw Lebioda, J. (Contributor), Schweitzer, J.-E. (Contributor), Nicolay, J.-P. (Contributor), Ferrand, J.-Y. (Contributor), Schwamborn, J. (Contributor), Graas, J. (Contributor), Calmes, J. (Contributor), Klucken, J. (Contributor), Trouet, J. (Contributor), Sokolowska, K. (Contributor), Brockmann, K. (Contributor), Marcus, K. (Contributor), Beaumont, K. (Contributor), Rump, K. (Contributor), Longhino, L. (Contributor), Pauly, L. (Contributor), Vilas Boas, L. (Contributor), Hansen, L. (Contributor), Castillo, L. (Contributor), Perquin, M. (Contributor), Vyas, M. (Contributor), Gantenbein, M. (Contributor), Ostaszewski, M. (Contributor), Schmitt, M. (Contributor), Graziano, M. (Contributor), Giraitis, M. (Contributor), Minelli, M. (Contributor), Hansen, M. (Contributor), Valenti, M. (Contributor), Heneka, M. (Contributor), Heymann, M. (Contributor), Mittelbronn, M. (Contributor), Vaillant, M. (Contributor), Bassis, M. (Contributor), Hu, M. (Contributor), Ali, M. (Contributor), Alexandre, M. (Contributor), Menster, M. (Contributor), Jacoby, N. (Contributor), Diederich, N. (Contributor), Tsurkalenko, O. (Contributor), Terwindt, O. (Contributor), Martins Conde, P. (Contributor), Wilmes, P. (Contributor), Lupu, P. C. (Contributor), Lambert, P. (Contributor), Gawron, P. (Contributor), Klopfenstein, Q. (Contributor), Rawal, R. (Contributor), Ting Jiin Loo, R. (Contributor), Becker, R. (Contributor), Schneider, R. (Contributor), Dondelinger, R. (Contributor), Wade-Martins, R. (Contributor), Liszka, R. (Contributor), Nati, R. (Contributor), Ramos Lima, R. (Contributor), Lentz, R. (Contributor), Balling, R. (Contributor), Schmitz, S. (Contributor), Nickels, S. (Contributor), Herzinger, S. (Contributor), Pachchek, S. (Contributor), Ghosh, S. (Contributor), Sapienza, S. (Contributor), Herbrink, S. (Contributor), Marques, T. (Contributor), Gasser, T. (Contributor), Nehrbass, U. (Contributor), Groues, V. (Contributor), Satagopam, V. (Contributor), Lorentz, V. (Contributor), Maetzler, W. (Contributor), Gu, W. (Contributor), Ammerlann, W. (Contributor), Jaroz, Y. (Contributor), Koks, S. (Contributor), Mellick, G. D. (Contributor), Pirker, W. (Contributor), Zimprich, A. (Contributor), Lang, A. E. (Contributor), Rogaeva, E. (Contributor), Taba, P. (Contributor), Brice, A. (Contributor), Chartier-Harlin, M.-C. (Contributor), Corvol, J.-C. (Contributor), Domenighetti, C. (Contributor), Elbaz, A. (Contributor), Lesage, S. (Contributor), Mutez, E. (Contributor), Sugier, P.-E. (Contributor), Grover, S. (Contributor), Brockmann, K. (Contributor), Deutschlander, A. B. (Contributor), Gasser, T. (Contributor), Kruger, J. (Contributor), Lichtner, P. (Contributor), Radivojkov-Blagojevic, M. (Contributor), Schulte, C. (Contributor), Sharma, M. (Contributor), Dardiotis, E. (Contributor), Hadjigeorgiou, G. M. (Contributor), Simitsi, A. M. (Contributor), Stefanis, L. (Contributor), Annesi, G. (Contributor), Brighina, L. (Contributor), Ferrarese, C. (Contributor), Petrucci, S. (Contributor), Pezzoli, G. (Contributor), Quattrone, A. (Contributor), Straniero, L. (Contributor), Gagliardi, M. (Contributor), Valente, E. M. (Contributor), Zecchinelli, A. (Contributor), Hattori, N. (Contributor), Nakayama, A. (Contributor), Matsuo, H. (Contributor), Nishioka, K. (Contributor), Bobbili, D. (Contributor), Bloem, B. R. (Contributor), van de Warrenburg, B. P. C. (Contributor), Aasly, J. (Contributor), Pihlstrom, L. (Contributor), Toft, M. (Contributor), Ferreira, J. J. (Contributor), Correia Guedes, L. (Contributor), Bardien, S. (Contributor), Carr, J. (Contributor), Chung, S. J. (Contributor), Kim, Y. J. (Contributor), Diez-Fairen, M. (Contributor), Ezquerra, M. (Contributor), Pastor, P. (Contributor), Tolosa, E. (Contributor), Belin, A. C. (Contributor), Pedersen, N. L. (Contributor), Puschmann, A. (Contributor), Ran, C. (Contributor), Rodstrom, E. Y. (Contributor), Wirdefeldt, K. (Contributor), Clarke, C. E. (Contributor), Morrison, K. E. (Contributor), Tan, M. (Contributor), Edsall, C. (Contributor), Farrer, M. J. (Contributor), Krainc, D. (Contributor), Singleton, A. B. (Contributor), Burbulla, L. F. (Contributor), Hernandez, D. G. (Contributor) & Consortia, T.N.-P. A.C.-P. (Creator), ZENODO, 2023
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7973685, https://zenodo.org/record/7973685
Dataset
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5LVX : Crystal structure of glucocerebrosidase with an inhibitory quinazoline modulator
Zheng, J. (Contributor), Chen, L. (Contributor), Skinner, O. S. (Contributor), Lansbury, P. (Contributor), Skerlj, R. (Contributor), Mrosek, M. (Contributor), Heunisch, U. (Contributor), Krapp, S. (Contributor), Charrow, J. (Contributor), Schwake, M. (Contributor), Kelleher, N. L. (Contributor), Silverman, R. B. (Contributor) & Krainc, D. (Contributor), RCSB-PDB, 2017
DOI: 10.2210/pdb5lvx/pdb, https://www.rcsb.org/structure/5LVX
Dataset