Ellen Nollen

The overall aim of Nollen’s research has been to understand how cells and organisms can protect themselves against toxic aggregation-prone proteins, in response to environmental stress, ageing, and age-related diseases. She obtained a PhD at the University of Groningen for research on protective mechanisms used by Hsp70 chaperones in heat-stressed cells. As a postdoc at Northwestern and the Hubrecht Institute, Nollen comprehensively identified additional modifiers using genome-wide genetics screens in C.elegans models for polyglutamine expansion diseases and generated C.elegans models for alpha-synuclein pathology in Parkinson’s disease. As an independent group leader, the research of Nollen’s team has been dedicated to uncovering modifier genes and mechanisms of diseases protein toxicity with a special interest in those that when suppressed, ameliorate toxicity. These modifiers include those with an indirect effect via metabolic changes and those with a direct on aggregation, called MOAGs. Nollen has received several personal grants and awards for her research, including a Rosalind Franklin Fellowship, an EMBO young investigator award, and an ERC starting grant.