Our studies of proteases implicated in atherosclerosis, bone and joint and autoimmune diseases have led to the identification of several promising low molecular weight inhibitors with novel binding sites.
Our laboratory is leading in the identification of novel therapeutic targets among intracellular lysosomal proteases and is focused on the role of these proteases in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis and certain forms of immune disorders. Our aim is to understand the role of lysosomal proteases in health and disease which may lead to new therapeutic approaches to treat these illnesses. To achieve our objective, we exploit an interdisciplinary approach which includes methods of molecular biology, enzymology, crystallography, histology, animal models and a wide range of collaborations with clinical and biotech institutions.
