Melissa Pergande (she/her)

Research in the Pergande Lab aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on the contribution of glial cells—astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia—to disease onset and progression. We employ high-resolution, mass spectrometry-based multiomic approaches, including proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics, to define cell-type-specific dysfunction and identify novel therapeutic targets.

To model disease-relevant mutations and protein aggregates in a human context, we utilize induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons and glia. These scalable in vitro systems enable systems-level profiling of pathogenic mechanisms in a cell-type-resolved manner. By integrating multiomic datasets, we map how disease-associated perturbations alter cellular pathways and network interactions.

Our research spans a range of neurodegenerative conditions, with particular emphasis on rare disorders such as Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN). Ongoing projects include multiomic profiling of GAN and related aggregate disorders, mechanistic dissection of glial contributions to disease, and the identification of glia-specific molecular changes that may inform therapeutic development. Our overarching goal is to build a mechanistic and translational framework for understanding glial biology in human neurodegeneration.