Investigators and Program Directors

Research Interests

The long term goal of our research is to reduce the burden of common human disorders. The primary focus of our lab is neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease and dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), and the means to promote healthy brain aging. Our targeted strategy is personalized medicine, whereby prevention and treatment would be personalized based on individual’s genetic makeup to achieve maximum benefit. Our research takes a whole-genome, and gene-environment interaction approach. Currently, the following studies are ongoing in the lab:

• Studies aimed at prevention are carried out through (a) targeted and genome-wide association studies to identify genes that affect risk or age at onset of symptoms; (b) identification and validation of protective factors that could be used for intervention; and (c) gene-environment interaction studies, to delineate genetic backgrounds that would be most responsive to intervention.
• Studies aimed at slowing disease progression include (a) pharmacogenomics studies to identify determinants of response to treatment, and (b) clinical and genetic studies to predict prognosis and treat patients early to avoid disease complications and disability.
• Basic studies aimed at better understanding the links between Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and identification of pathways that are common to neurodegenerative disorders.
• Mathematical and statistical modeling and development of novel analytical methods for genetic analysis of complex disorders.

NeuroGenetics Research Consortium

The mission of NGRC is to develop novel effective therapeutics for prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. On the premise that one therapy will not be suitable for all individuals, NGRC has adopted an interdisciplinary approach and assembled a highly collaborative team of investigators with complementary expertise and on-going research in:

• Clinical, translational and basic neuroscience
• Genomics and epidemiology
• Adult stem cells
• Gene therapy
• Pharmacogenomics, and
• Brain-computer interface

A collaborative effort funded by NIH since 1993, NGRC was formalized in 2004 as a Michael J Fox Foundation Edmond J Safra Global Genetic Consortium. Currently, NGRC includes investigators at five academic institutions, two federal agencies, one state agency, and a nonprofit organization. NGRC has eight neurology clinics in four US states, over 6000 research volunteers, and a centralized DNA bank linked to a secure database housing clinical, environmental exposures, genetic and demographic data on approximately 10,000 research samples. The patient-oriented resources are readily available for translational studies.

The Genomics Institute

The mission of the Genomics Institute is to translate the promise of genomics into public health practices. As part of the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center, the Institute is dedicated to improving the health of citizens. As part of its mission to promote public health, the Institute:

• Fosters basic research for discovery
• Supports multi-institutional interdisciplinary research
• Spearheads translational genomics, and
• Provides training and education

The Genomics Institute collaborates with academic, public and private sectors and supports basic science, clinical and pharmaceutical projects.

Contact Information

E-mail: hpayami@wadsworth.org.