Michael K Lee

Michael K Lee is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota Medical School, specializing in Neuroscience, Genetics, and Mechanisms of Cancer. His research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, with emphasis on alpha-synuclein pathology, transgenic mouse models, and mechanisms of neurodegeneration.

Dr. Lee's research interests center on the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders. His work extensively examines alpha-synuclein and its role in Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies, as well as the interplay between alpha-synuclein and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. He investigates cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress pathways, and adaptive stress responses as potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative conditions. His laboratory utilizes transgenic mouse models to study protein aggregation, neurotoxicity, and cognitive impairment mechanisms.

Analysis of Dr. Lee's recent publications reveals a strong focus on alpha-synuclein pathology across multiple neurodegenerative conditions. His research spans from basic molecular mechanisms to translational therapeutic approaches, with particular attention to sex differences in disease presentation and response to interventions. The publications demonstrate ongoing work on novel therapeutic strategies including metabolic interventions, mitochondrial modulation, and stress response pathway targeting.

Dr. Lee serves as Principal Investigator on multiple significant research grants totaling 29 projects with 25 completed and 4 currently active. His major funding sources include the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), particularly the National Institute on Aging.

His current active projects include:

• Senescence in Parkinson's disease and related disorders (funded by Michael J. Fox Foundation, 2025-2027)
• Targeting a novel adaptive stress response pathway for therapeutic intervention in alpha-synuclein-induced dementia (funded by DoD and Medical University of South Carolina, 2023-2026)
• Monoaminergic neurotransmitter impairment from TBI as an early mechanism in neurodegenerative disease (funded by DoD and Henry M. Jackson Foundation, 2023-2026)
• Regulation of human tau expression and tauopathy by alpha-synuclein (funded by NIH National Institute on Aging, 2022-2027)

Dr. Lee's research group utilizes transgenic mouse models, particularly those expressing human alpha-synuclein mutations like A53T, to investigate mechanisms of protein aggregation, neurodegeneration, and cognitive impairment. His laboratory appears to focus on both basic mechanisms of neurodegeneration and translational approaches for therapeutic intervention, with recent work examining intranasal delivery systems for neuroprotective compounds.