Alzheimer's may be caused by immune cells thinking brain cells are bacteria, expert says
A new theory of Alzheimer's disease reassesses the role of beta-amyloid in the brain.
Donald Weaver
Professor of Chemistry and Senior Scientist of the Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto
Dr. Weaver's research interests are focused on computer-aided drug design and medicinal chemistry with particular applications to chronic neurodegenerative disorders. His general approach employs a variety of theoretical chemistry techniques (molecular quantum mechanics [ab initio and density functional theory], force field calculations, molecular dynamics simulations) to design small molecules capable of binding to designated receptor sites; these small molecules are drug-like new chemical entities. The molecules are then synthesized using synthetic organic chemistry methods, and then evaluated to enable an iterative process of compound optimization driven by quantitative structure-activity relationship calculations.
