Understanding how the protein tau moves between neurons yields insight into possible treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

By Sonia Fernandez

In the fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, the tau protein is a major culprit. Found abundantly in our brain cells, tau is normally a team player — it maintains structure and stability within neurons, and it helps with transport of nutrients from one part of the cell to another.

Few people will have the same high-profile chance to influence the world as directly as James Thomson. Most people will never see their names printed in textbooks or see their work have an influence on politics.

This was the case for Thomson, who made news around the world in Nov. 1998 when he and his team became the first to derive human stem cells from an embryo. Thomson said that he didn’t have time to revel in his accomplishment.

Full article in the link below.