Davide Trotti's Biography

Davide Trotti, Professor, Scientific Director, Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University

Neurobiologist Davide Trotti has a long standing interest in understanding the mechanisms of neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative disease. Research in Dr. Trotti's laboratory is aimed at studying the molecular mechanisms leading to motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Research objective of Dr. Trotti's laboratory is to understand the pathophysiology of ALS to provide a better and more focused molecular approach to a cure. ALS, a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's disease, is the most common adult motor neuron disease and its primary hallmark is the death of motor neurons of the spinal cord, which leads to spasticity, hyper-reflexia, general weakness and muscle atrophy. Failure of respiratory muscles is generally the fatal event, occurring within 1-5 years of symptoms onset. Dr. Trotti's laboratory has accumulated expertise in the study of pathogenic mechanisms underlying ALS. His laboratory employs a variety of molecular, electrophysiology, imaging and cell biology techniques along with molecular and genetic tools, including animal models that recapitulate the human pathology. Currently holding the rank of full professor of neuroscience at Thomas Jefferson University, Dr. Trotti is also Director of Research at the Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center.