Caner Gunaydin, PhD/PharmD

Over the past decade, Dr. Caner Günaydin has focused on researching neurodegenerative diseases. With a background in pharmacy and pharmacology, he initially worked on protein-related disorders, particularly looking at Parkinson’s disease. His research examined how alpha-synuclein spreads in immune cells called microglia and how certain small molecules can influence that process. To expand his knowledge in treatment methods, Dr. Günaydin joined Dr. Ronald G. Crystal’s lab in the U.S., which is known for its work in gene therapy. There, he developed a new and improved gene therapy using a variant of APOE2, specifically for Alzheimer’s patients who have the APOE4 gene. His results showed that this variant helped reduce harmful proteins and inflammation while protecting cognitive function murine models. The improved gene therapy, called AAVrh.10APOE2Ch, is now moving closer to being tested in people. Dr. Günaydin is also using cutting-edge gene editing techniques to find new treatment options for disorders majorly focused on synucleinopathies.