Research Projects

The human brain, composed of billions of neurons, relies on intricate cellular processes to enable complex functions such as memory, cognition, and motor control. Neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signals, and any disruption in this communication—whether through impaired neuronal transport or dysfunction in intracellular mechanisms—can lead to severe neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Understanding the intracellular mechanisms that govern neuron function is crucial for advancing treatments for neurological diseases and deepening our knowledge of brain function. Despite significant advances in neuroscience, many intracellular processes in neurons remain poorly understood due to their inherent complexity and the challenges of mathematical modeling. One such process is the transport of cellular components by motor proteins along microtubules, which are vital for maintaining neuronal function and health. These motor proteins collaborate to efficiently transport cargo, yet the collective dynamics of multiple motors are not well understood. This gap in knowledge is primarily due to the computational complexity involved and the limitations of experimental techniques, which struggle to track the behavior of multiple motors simultaneously. Disruptions in this transport system are associated with a range of disorders, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This research project aims to use mathematical modeling to investigate intracellular transport in neurons, focusing on the Totally Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process (TASEP), a Markov process that can simulate particle transport based on biological principles. Previous motor protein transport models have oversimplified the system by treating microtubules as rigid, one-dimensional structures and considering only a single type of motor protein, overlooking the complexity of their flexible, three-dimensional nature and the interplay of multiple motor proteins in actual transport. This project seeks to address these gaps by developing more detailed models that better capture the complexity of neuronal transport. The goal is to enhance our understanding of transport mechanisms, identify factors that impact efficiency and dysfunction, and use Monte Carlo simulations to validate the models, ensuring they reflect the complexities of neuronal behavior in both healthy and diseased states. By leveraging TASEP and computational simulations, this project aims to develop a novel approach for studying the brain's complex cellular mechanisms, which are difficult to observe directly through experimental techniques. Ultimately, the goal is to deepen our understanding of brain function at the molecular level, uncover new insights into the causes of neurological diseases, and identify potential therapeutic pathways for biomedical researchers.