Brigitte van Zundert

Brigitte van Zundert is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurology at UMass Chan Medical School (T.H. Chan School of Medicine). She holds a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Concepcion, Chile, and an MS in Molecular Biology from Utrecht University, Netherlands. Her research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ALS and Alzheimer's, with a strong emphasis on epigenetic mechanisms, neuronal plasticity, and astrocyte-motoneuron interactions.

Education:

• PhD: Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Concepcion, Chile
• MS: Molecular Biology, Utrecht University, Netherlands

Research Interests: Dr. van Zundert investigates epigenetic regulation in neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS and Alzheimer's. Her work explores mechanisms such as chromatin reorganization, polyphosphate toxicity, and non-cell-autonomous pathology. She also studies astrocyte dysfunction and mitochondrial dynamics in disease contexts. Recent studies include the role of H3K9 methyltransferases in neural progenitor differentiation and therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic modifiers like BET inhibitors.

Publications: Her recent work highlights advancements in understanding ALS pathology via astrocyte-derived factors, therapeutic interventions for C9ALS/FTD, and the role of polyphosphate in neurodegeneration. She has also contributed to studies on fear memory, Alzheimer's biomarkers, and autophagy in ALS.

Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided text.

Lab/Teams: Collaborates with researchers in neurology, molecular biology, and epigenetics, including co-authors like Montecino, Brown RH, and Constantine-Paton. Active in interdisciplinary projects involving stem cell models, drug development, and neuroinflammation studies.