Dr. La Spada's research is focused on neurodegenerative disease, and he has worked primarily on elucidating mechanisms underlying three polyglutamine repeat diseases (X-linked spinal & bulbar muscular atrophy [SBMA]; spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 [SCA7]; and Huntington’s disease [HD]). Here, he will continue investigating the cellular and molecular basis of polyglutamine neurodegeneration. Specifically, he will define the molecular basis of SBMA skeletal muscle-driven motor neuron degeneration, determine whether processes of NMJ dysfunction or overexuberant activity-dependent gene expression may generalize to common neurodegenerative diseases, and seek to develop novel therapies that will restore homeostasis pathways that decline in aging and neurodegeneration.