UCLA Westwood Labs: Pioneering Research in Diverse Fields
UCLA's Westwood campus is home to a diverse array of research laboratories, each dedicated to advancing knowledge and developing innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. These labs encompass a wide spectrum of disciplines, from social sciences and community health to neurodegenerative disease research and drug development. This article will delve into the work of two distinctive labs: the ARISE Lab, focused on the well-being of vulnerable youth, and a laboratory within the UCLA Alzheimer's Drug Development Network (ADDN), dedicated to finding treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
The ARISE Lab: Championing Resilience and Empowerment
The ARISE Lab (Advocacy, Resilience, and Intersectional Sexual Empowerment) at UCLA Westwood is committed to improving health and social service access for youth affected by foster care, justice involvement, and commercial sexual exploitation. The lab emphasizes community-based, trauma-informed, and equity-driven approaches. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by these young people, ARISE adopts a holistic approach that addresses their specific needs and promotes their overall well-being.
Community-Based Partnerships
A cornerstone of ARISE's methodology is its commitment to community-based research. The lab actively partners with organizations and young people to co-develop meaningful interventions. By involving stakeholders in the research process, ARISE ensures that its work is relevant, responsive, and culturally sensitive. This collaborative approach fosters trust and empowers young people to become active participants in shaping their own futures.
Trauma-Informed Care
Understanding the profound impact of trauma on the lives of vulnerable youth, ARISE integrates trauma-informed principles into all aspects of its work. This means recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma, avoiding re-traumatization, and creating a safe and supportive environment for participants. By addressing the underlying trauma that may be contributing to their challenges, ARISE helps young people heal, build resilience, and thrive.
Equity-Driven Solutions
ARISE is deeply committed to promoting equity and addressing the systemic barriers that prevent vulnerable youth from accessing the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. The lab recognizes that factors such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation can intersect to create unique challenges for these young people. By taking an intersectional approach, ARISE strives to develop solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of each individual and that promote social justice.
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Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues it addresses, ARISE integrates qualitative and quantitative methods in its research. Qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus groups, allow researchers to explore the lived experiences of young people and gain insights into their perspectives and challenges. Quantitative methods, such as surveys and statistical analysis, provide data on the prevalence of certain issues and the effectiveness of interventions. By combining these approaches, ARISE generates robust and nuanced findings that can inform policy and practice.
Focus on Resilience and Empowerment
At its core, ARISE is focused on promoting resilience and empowerment among vulnerable youth. Resilience refers to the ability to bounce back from adversity and overcome challenges. Empowerment involves providing young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to take control of their lives and make informed decisions. By fostering resilience and empowerment, ARISE helps young people build brighter futures for themselves.
UCLA Alzheimer's Drug Development Network (ADDN): A Multifaceted Approach to Combating Neurodegenerative Disease
Within the UCLA Westwood campus, another laboratory is dedicated to the discovery and development of drug candidates for neurodegenerative diseases, with a primary focus on Alzheimer's disease. This laboratory is an integral part of the UCLA Alzheimer's Drug Development Network (ADDN), a multi-site network leveraging key UCLA capabilities and outside resources to develop novel therapeutics for AD. The lab's multifaceted approach encompasses various aspects of preclinical drug discovery, from target validation to lead optimization and in vivo testing.
Multifunctional Capabilities
The laboratory is designed to be multifunctional and is equipped for both chemistry and biology. This allows researchers to conduct a wide range of experiments, from synthesizing novel compounds to studying their effects on cells and animal models. The lab's capabilities include:
- Development of phenotypic screens: These screens are used to identify compounds that have a desired effect on cells or organisms, without necessarily knowing the specific target of the compound.
- Target validation: This process involves confirming that a particular protein or pathway is indeed a valid target for drug development.
- Medicinal chemistry for hit-to-lead optimization: Once a promising compound ("hit") is identified, medicinal chemists work to improve its properties, such as its potency, selectivity, and bioavailability, to create a "lead" compound that is suitable for further development.
- In vitro ADMET studies for lead advancement: ADMET stands for absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity. These studies are conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of lead compounds before they are tested in animals.
- In vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) / pharmacodynamic (PD) testing for target engagement: PK studies examine how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body. PD studies examine the effects of a drug on the body. These studies are used to determine the optimal dose and schedule for a drug.
- Lead confirmation: This involves conducting additional experiments to confirm that a lead compound is indeed a promising drug candidate.
Collaborative Network
The laboratory's participation in the UCLA Alzheimer's Drug Development Network (ADDN) is crucial to its success. The ADDN brings together researchers from various disciplines, including chemistry, biology, and medicine, to collaborate on the development of new treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The network also provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and resources.
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Recent Publications
The laboratory's research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including:
- ACS Chemical Neuroscience: A Small Molecule Mimetic of the Humanin Peptide as a Candidate for Modulating NMDA-Induced Neurotoxicity.
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (BBRC): Suppression of tau propagation using an inhibitor that targets the DK-switch of nSMase2.
- Evaluation of an Allosteric Inhibitor Peptide to identify mimetics that can interact with the Loop F region of BACE and prevent APP cleavage.
These publications highlight the laboratory's contributions to the understanding and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Targeting Tau Propagation
Bilousova, T., Elias, C., Miyoshi, E., Alam, M.P., Zhu, C., Campagna, J., Vadivel, K. Jagodzinska, B., Gylys, K., John, V. (2018) published research in BBRC focused on "Suppression of tau propagation using an inhibitor that targets the DK-switch of nSMase2." This research is significant because tau propagation is a key pathological event in Alzheimer's disease. By developing inhibitors that can block tau propagation, this team hopes to slow or even prevent the progression of the disease.
Inhibiting BACE1
Campagna, J.; Vadivel, K.; Jagodznska, B.; Jun, M.; Bilousova, T.; Spilman, P.; John, V. (2018) published a study on the "Evaluation of an Allosteric Inhibitor Peptide to identify mimetics that can interact with the Loop F region of BACE and prevent APP cleavage." BACE1 is an enzyme that plays a critical role in the production of amyloid-beta, another key pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. By inhibiting BACE1, it may be possible to reduce the amount of amyloid-beta in the brain and prevent the formation of plaques.
Humanin Mimetics
Mary S. (2018) published "A Small Molecule Mimetic of the Humanin Peptide as a Candidate for Modulating NMDA-Induced Neurotoxicity" in ACS Chem. Neurosci. Humanin is a small peptide that has been shown to protect neurons from damage. This research focuses on developing small molecule mimetics of humanin that can be used to treat Alzheimer's disease. NMDA-induced neurotoxicity is a process that is thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
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