I am studying Beta-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (BPAN), caused by mutations in WDR45, by creating an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSc)-derived neuronal cell model of the disease. BPAN mainly affects the substantia nigra, hence I am differentiating iPSc’s derived from BPAN patients to dopaminergic neurons. WDR45 is an autophagy-related gene and my project aims to identify the pathogenetic mechanisms that lead to neuronal malfunction, but also to set up assays to be used in future drug screening, with the ultimate aim to identify new therapeutic options for patients with the disease.