Our Mission

The Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Neuropathology (CNEN), was created to advance basic and translational neuroscience research of neurodegenerative diseases. Our core mission is to support the advancement of novel therapeutics by providing a consolidated infrastructure of resources and collaborations.

CNEN draws faculty, laboratories, and students into a cooperative environment where needed equipment and core resources can be shared to propel science discovery forward.  While the level of scientific investigation is intense, CNEN strives to provide an atmosphere that is collegial and informal where collaborators, staff research technicians, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and administrative support staff act collectively as part of one team alongside CNEN investigators.  
 
Established in 2016 by Dr. Robert Rissman, Associate Professor of Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego, CNEN is located at the UC San Diego School of Medicine campus where its Department of Neurosciences has a rich, internationally acclaimed history for its contribution to the research of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

Research studies of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders at UC San Diego are part of the clinical bench strength of the UC System. For the past 30 years, UC San Diego has been a leader in Alzheimer’s Disease research and home to the prestigious Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS).