My quest to cure prion disease — before it's too late | Sonia Vallabh
May 30, 2024
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Biomedical researcher Sonia Vallabh shares her quest to cure prion disease, exploring insights on catching and preventing the illness, and honoring the mystery of our brains. She reflects on pivotal life moments, the emotional journey of genetic test results, and the complexity of developing brain-targeted therapeutics. Vallabh's personal journey highlights the impact of a genetic mutation on her family and the proactive approach to combating the disease.
Prion disease involves a normal protein turning rogue and damaging neurons, prompting early prevention strategies using advanced scientific methods.
Embracing audacity and humility, Sonia Vallabh's dedication to finding a cure for prion disease highlights the transformative power of adversity.
Deep dives
Taking Control of Genetic Prion Disease
Sonia Vileb shares her journey of discovering she inherited a genetic mutation causing a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Despite the high stakes, she chose to dedicate her life to finding a treatment. This led her to return to school, earn a PhD, and establish a lab devoted to developing therapy for prion disease. Her extraordinary determination and resilience inspired many.
Understanding Prion Disease and Treatment Approach
Prion disease, unique in biology, involves a normal protein, PRP, turning rogue and damaging neurons in the brain. Sonia's approach focuses on early prevention by targeting the pathogenic protein before it causes harm. By leveraging scientific advancements like single molecule imaging and potential drug interventions, she aims to develop safe and effective therapies to combat the disease.
A Quest for Prevention and Transformation
Sonia emphasizes the importance of prevention over treatment in prion disease and how this approach can offer insights for other diseases. Embracing audacity and humility, she and her team navigate the challenges of developing preventive measures. Their journey emphasizes the transformative power of adversity, leading to unexpected opportunities and connections that redefine the meaning of life's journey.
Biomedical researcher Sonia Vallabh's life was turned upside down when she learned she had the genetic mutation for a rare and fatal illness, prion disease, that could strike at any time. Thirteen years later, her search for a cure has led to new insights about how to catch and prevent disease — and how to honor our grandest, most mysterious inheritance: our brains.