University of Pennsylvania · BiologyLee Tau Lab
Virginia M Lee · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Virginia M. Lee's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal tau protein aggregation. The lab aims to uncover how different forms of tau can spread and affect neuron function, ultimately seeking targeted therapeutic strategies to treat conditions like Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal degeneration. Through innovative models and advanced techniques, the team investigates the mechanisms behind tau transmission, which could lead to more effective drug therapies.
tauopathiesAlzheimer's diseasetau transmissionneurodegenerationtherapeutic targetsneuron biologytau aggregatesprotein pathology
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate how amyloid plaques affect the transmission of tau pathology.
AIM 02Determine the molecular basis of tau strain-dependent pathogenicity.
AIM 03Identify novel genes that can be targeted to influence tau transmission.
AIM 04Understand the interplay between different forms of tau aggregation and neuron function.
Skills the Lab Values
cryoelectron microscopymouse modelscell culturein vitro experimentsbiochemical assaysgenetic manipulationspatiotemporal modelinghistological analysistransgenic miceprotein analysis
Output against the department
Publications922top 2% of dept.20th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations159ktop 1% of dept.3rd of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.