Recipients

Wilson disease is a hereditary disorder that affects about one in every 30,000 people. Individuals with the condition accumulate excessive amounts of copper in their tissues, which leads to neurological problems and liver failure. Wilson disease ATPase (ATP7B) is the enzyme that regulates how the human body processes copper. Insufficient enzyme activity causes Wilson disease, while excessive expression of ATP7B can make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy. Using the tools of molecular biology, Dr. Nataliya Dolgova is working to gain a better understanding of how Wilson disease ATPase functions. Her research could lay the foundation for development of new drugs that help overcome resistance of some cancers to chemotherapy and new therapies for patients with Wilson disease.

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