Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and characterized at the neuropathological level by the combined occurrence of intraneuronal aggregates of the microtubule associated protein tau and extracellular β-amyloid plaques. The laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology investigates molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. We apply molecular, cell biological, and biochemical techniques to understand basic processes in neuronal metabolism under physiological and pathophysiological conditions using in vitro and in vivo models as well as human samples. Our research is focused on the functional role of genetic factors, in particular the amyloid β peptide, in the initiation and progression of neurodegeneration. The overall aim of our research is to identify pathways and molecular targets for future therapy and diagnosis.