NPAS monthly meeting

Date: Dec. 28, 2011 (Wed)
Time: AM 11:00~12:00

Location: B1 Auditorium, IMB (Institute of Molecular Biology)

Speaker: Dr. Sung-Tsang Hsieh,Dept. of Antomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine

Title:

Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy of Transthyretin Mutation in Taiwan

Abstract

 

Dear NPAS colleagues

I would like to have your attention to the year-end NPAS seminar by Dr.Sung-Tsang Hsieh, a neurologist from National Taiwan University Hospital. Hislaboratory is devoted to investigate the neurobiological aspects of nervedegeneration and its consequences of neuropathic pain. His recent studies havebeen focused on polyneuropathy, a disabling pathological condition that sensory,motor and sometimes autonomic nerves malfunction simultaneously. Patients withpolyneuropathy have problems of numbness in a 'glove and stocking' distribution.

The etiological and prognostic diagnoses have been challenging inthe field for past decades. The first major contribution of Dr. Hsieh’s group isthe development of diagnosisfor the disease severity and patient prognosis with high accuracy. In thesecond major contribution, Dr. Hsieh has identified a novel Ala97Sermutation in transthyretin (TTR) as a common cause of anadult-onset familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) in Taiwan. Interestingly, Val30Met mutation of TTR also causes FAP in Japanand Europe. Dr. Hsieh is currently studying pathological mechanisms by Ala97Serand Val30Met mutations, leading to amyloid depositions in peripheral nervefibers, which would provide insights into new therapeutic strategy for FAP.

If you come to this seminar, you will find a very sensational storybehind the hard work of a devoted scientist. He is also eager to set upcollaboration on studying many aspects of this disease. You are all welcome!

CT