Dr. Saporta’s current research interest is the identification of mediators of axonal degeneration in inherited neuropathies using patient-derived neuronal cell lines. Axonal degeneration is the main driver of functional disability in patients with inherited neuropathies. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms behind axonal degeneration can provide investigators new targets for therapy development. Dr. Saporta’s lab creates disease modeling systems based on patients’ own cells and use them to better understand disease mechanisms and to look for new potential therapies.