My research concerns the chemistry, metabolism, and biological function of complex glycoconjugates, particularly glycosphigolipids.  These compounds play crucial roles in determining cellular properties such as intercellular interactions, recognition and adhesion.  Current research is focused on the following areas:

• Developmental neurobiology -- the role of glycoconjugates in cellular proliferation and differentiation, as well as the metabolic basis and regulatory mechanisms for their expression in normal brain development
• Stem cell biology -- role of glycoconjugates in neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation, and use of stem cells in transplantation therapy
• Mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders -- the basic mechanisms underlying a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including neuroplasia, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune demyelinating neuropathies, mucopolysaccharidoses, sensorineural hearing loss, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease
• Neurooncology -- basic mechanisms of  tumorigenesis and development of vaccine-based tumor suppression strategies 

To apply the knowledge gained in the laboratory to the development of effective and rational diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to help the thousands and thousands of patients suffering from a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

My laboratory has applied molecular biological tools to elucidate factors regulating neural cell differentiation and proliferation. We are also engaged in developing cell transplantation and immunological therapeutic strategies for a variety of neurodegenerative disorders and cancers.

The state support in higher education through the Georgia Research Alliance as well as other initiatives is unsurpassed.  There are ample opportunities for collaborative research among researchers in Georgia.  Georgia is rapidly rising to the leading edge of biotechnological and biomedical development, and I am very happy to be part of this effort.