David A. Harris

David A. Harris is the Edgar Minas Housepian Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry at Boston University's Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and prion disorders. He leads a multidisciplinary lab exploring protein misfolding, neurotoxicity, and therapeutic interventions.

Research Interests: Harris investigates how misfolded proteins (e.g., PrPSc and Aβ oligomers) cause neuronal damage and synaptic dysfunction. His lab identifies cellular receptors and pathways involved in neurodegenerative processes, aiming to develop drugs targeting these mechanisms. Key areas include prion propagation, Alzheimer’s amyloid-beta toxicity, and the role of non-neuronal cells in disease progression.

Lab Team: The Harris Lab includes PhD students (Jean Gatdula, Nadia Mirza-Romero, Isabel Orbe, Samantha Tolton), postdoctoral associates (Jose Andres Alepuz Guillen), and technical staff. Current projects involve iPSC models, drug screening, and understanding prion strain specificity.

Therapeutic Focus: Recent work highlights antiprion compounds (e.g., sigma receptor ligands) and neuroprotective strategies. Collaborations span basic biology to translational research, with a focus on drug discovery for protein misfolding diseases.

Advising & Grants: Harris mentors graduate and undergraduate students, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. His lab hosts postdoctoral positions and has received support for projects targeting prion and Alzheimer’s therapies.

Labs/Teams: The Harris Lab is part of the Biochemistry & Cell Biology program at BU, leveraging cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, cell culture, and drug screening. Future efforts aim to bridge basic science with clinical applications in neurodegenerative disease treatment.