Jonathan N Sachs

Jonathan N Sachs is a Professor and Head of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering. His research focuses on neurodegenerative disease mechanisms with emphasis on protein misfolding pathologies in ALS, FTD, and Parkinson's disease.

His primary research interests include:

• Molecular dynamics of alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 proteinopathies
• Development of FRET-based biosensors for live-cell monitoring
• Autophagy-lysosomal pathway dysregulation in tauopathies
• Affibody engineering for receptor-specific therapeutics
• Computational modeling of protein aggregation mechanisms

Current research trends show strong emphasis on translational applications, with multiple NIH-funded projects developing:

• Novel biosensors for dynamic monitoring of neurodegenerative processes
• Cell-based therapies using iPSC-derived CAR macrophages
• Targeted approaches to restore functional TDP-43
• Alpha-synuclein fibril structure-based therapeutic interventions

Dr. Sachs leads an active research program with 79 total publications and 26 funded projects, including multiple active NIH grants from the National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. His laboratory collaborates extensively with researchers in neuroscience, biochemistry, and molecular medicine.