Dr. Cole’s research has focused on therapeutics and biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). He has relevant experience with protein aggregate accumulating pre-clinical models. The properties of tau and abeta aggregates in AD have substantial overlap with the alpha-synuclein aggregates found in PD including accumulation in the endosomal/ lysosomal pathway, packaging in exosomes, clearance by proteasomal or autophagic pathways and prion-like transynaptic spreading. Dr. Cole has co-authored over 180 manuscripts.

Dr. Cole’s recent pre-clinical work employs Dr. Eisenberg's expertise in making new and highly specific designer reagents that target alpha-synuclein aggregates. They pilot-tested nanoparticles decorated with Eisenberg's alpha-synuclein aggregate inhibitors that bind to synuclein aggregates. Remarkably, these pilot tests indicated that a single dose of these particles permitted imaging of the synuclein deposits as expected, but also appeared to rapidly rescue failed autophagic clearance of synuclein aggregates. They now pursue this innovative new front for PD therapeutics.