Bitan Research Lab

  • Tauopathy mouse brain
    Welcome to Bitan Lab

    Neurons (NeuN) and astrocytes (GFAP) in a tauopathy mouse brain

  • Dendritic spines depleted by Aβ42 and rescued by CLR01.

    Dendritic spines depleted by Aβ42 and rescued by CLR01

  • Aβ40 fibrils and oligomers (inset) visualized by electron microscopy.

    Aβ40 fibrils and oligomers (inset) visualized by electron microscopy

  • Time-dependent change in the circular dichroism spectrum of Aβ during aggregation.

    Time-dependent change in the circular dichroism spectrum of Aβ during aggregation

  • Molecular tweezers colocalize with lysosomes in primary neurons.

    Molecular tweezers colocalize with lysosomes in primary neurons

  • Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in a mouse brain before and after treatment with CLR01.

    Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in a mouse brain before and after treatment with CLR01

  • Extracellular vesicles isolated by ultracenrifugation/filtraion versus polymer-assisted precipitation.

    Extracellular vesicles isolated by ultracenrifugation/filtraion versus polymer-assisted precipitation

  • Different tau fibrils seed different aggregates in biosensor cells.

    Different tau fibrils seed different aggregates in biosensor cells

  • CLR01 reduces tau aggregates (Gallyas silver-stain) in a tauopathy mouse model.

    CLR01 reduces tau aggregates (Gallyas silver-stain) in a tauopathy mouse model

About our lab

Our group studies neurodegenerative diseases involving abnormal self-association of proteins into toxic oligomers, aggregates, and amyloid fibrils. We study the molecular interactions in these processes and how they spread through the brain. We also develop novel biomarkers and drug candidates for these diseases.

Abnormal protein oligomerization and aggregation cause, or are involved in, over 50 diseases called amyloidoses or proteinopathies. Of this large family of diseases, we study Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other dementias and movement disorders. An important focus of our lab is the analysis of biomarkers that can improve the prognosis and diagnosis of these diseases and facilitate drug development for them.

Another major project in our lab is the development of “Molecular Tweezers” as novel drug candidates for proteinopathies.

Learn more about our research

Headshot photo of Dr. Gal Bitan

Gal Bitan, Ph.D
Professor of Neurology
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Dr. Bitan is affiliated with three graduate programs:

The Bitan Lab logo was designed by former lab member Otmane Lahgui, MS, MBA.

Bitan lab members on the beach at Carpinteria, CA

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