Email

elias.rivera@bcm.edu

Positions

Postdoctoral Associate

Molecular & Human Genetics - Zoghbi Lab
Baylor College of Medicine

Education

PhD from UNSAM

11/2021 - San Martin, Buenos Aires Argentina

Professional Statement

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of the CAG triplet encoding the polyglutamine (PolyQ) tract in the ATXN1 gene. Even though the disease-causing protein is broadly expressed in the brain, the main affected regions are the cerebellum and the brainstem, however, the mechanisms driving this regional vulnerability are unknown. Therefore, I am focused on identifying the factors that mediate the differential regional toxicity of PoliQ-ATXN1.