Pedro Fernandez-Funez, PhD
Address
Department of Biomedical Sciences
SMed 333
1035 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
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Biography
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Education
PhD, Summa cum laude, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain)
Major: Developmental Biology and Genetics
BS, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain)
Major: Biology
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Research
Statement: My aim is to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration using Drosophila models of several proteinopathies
.A large group of human neurodegenerative conditions are associated to protein deposition in the brain. Some of the most common brain conditions include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease, all of which are devastating and incurable. Prion disorders are rare and transmissible but belong to the same class of neurodegenerative diseases. The common feature of these and many other diseases is the deposition of misfolded proteins in brain neurons proposed to be responsible for neuronal cell death. The proteins responsible for each disease (Amyloid-beta in AD, alpha-Synuclein in PD, Huntingtin in HD and the Prion protein in PrD) are quite different in sequence, function and cellular localization. However, they are all structurally unstable and prone to misfold, thus exposing hydrophobic pockets that make the proteins aggregate. Upon autopsy, these proteins accumulate in large, fibrillar aggregates that were originally thought to be responsible for neurodegeneration. However, the focus has recently turned to smaller, soluble aggregates (oligomers) that are highly toxic and seem capable of disrupting synaptic function. This knowledge, though, has not resulted in significant insight into the causes of neuronal cell death nor has produced effective therapies.
I am using the flexibility and genetic prowess of Drosophila to gain knowledge on some of the most intractable questions posed by this group of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent work includes the identification of engineered antibodies and chaperones that bind amyloid-beta and efficiently suppress its toxicity. I also generated a robust phenotypic Drosophila model expressing the prion protein in the eye that I will use to conduct genetic screens to identify genetic modifiers of PrP neurotoxicity. I am also interested in uncovering the pathogenic mechanisms mediating the toxicity of several genes implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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Awards, Honors and Recognitions
Exemplary Teacher Award, University of Florida College of Medicine, 2012
Excellence Award in Research for Assistant Professors, University of Florida, 2011
Faculty of the Month, University of Texas Medical Branch Research Services, 2007
NIH Director New Innovator Award, National Institutes of Health, 2007
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Presentations
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Uncovering pathogenic gene networks in Drosophila", Fly Meeting, UMN Medical School, Duluth, Minnesota. January 01, 2018.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Understanding and treating neurological diseases in Drosophila", UMN Medical School Community Advisory Board, Duluth, Minnesota. November 01, 2017.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Platform presentation", 6th Iberian Congress on Prions, Cordoba, Spain. October 01, 2017.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Mechanisms of amyloid-toxicity in Drosophila", Cajal Institute, Madrid, Spain. October 01, 2017.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Drosophila as a model to study amyloid toxicity", Annual Retreat, Developmental Biology Center, Spring Lake Park Reserve, Minnesota. May 01, 2017.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Modeling and reducing amyloid toxicity in Drosophila", Dept. of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota. June 01, 2016.
de Mena, Fernandez-Funez, P., Rincon-Limas, D. E. "Development and optimization of light-dependent switches for spatiotemporal control of gene expression", The Allied Genetics Conference, Orlando, Florida. January 01, 2016.
Moore, B. D., Fernandez-Funez, P., Golde, T. E. "Short amyloid-beta peptides attenuate amyloid-beta 42 toxicity in vivo", The Allied Genetics Conference, Orlando, Florida. January 01, 2016.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Strategies to suppress amyloid-toxicity in Drosophila", Center for Molecular Biology-CSIC, Madrid, Spain. September 01, 2015.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Engineered Hsp70 suppresses amyloid-β neurotoxicity in Drosophila by binding extracellular amyloid-β aggregates", 56th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2015.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "The holdase activity of Hsp70 is sufficient to robustly suppress amyloid-β neurotoxicity", 24th European Drosophila Research Conference, Heidelberg, Germany. January 01, 2015.
de Mena, Fernandez-Funez, P., Roncon-Limas, D. E. "Development and optimization of light-dependent switches for spatiotemporal control of gene expression", 57th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Orlando, Florida. January 01, 2015.
Moore, B. D., Fernandez-Funez, P., Golde, T. E. "Short amyloid-beta peptides attenuate amyloid-beta 42 toxicity in vivo", 57th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Orlando, Florida. January 01, 2015.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Antibody and chaperone engineering as anti-amyloid strategies", NeuroFLy 2014, Crete, Greece. October 01, 2014.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "3D magnetic resonance microscopy of the Drosophila brain at 10 micron resolution", NeuroFLy 2014, Crete, Greece. October 01, 2014.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Developing extracellular anti-amyloid in Drosophila", Instituto Cajal CSIC, Madrid, Spain. June 01, 2014.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Exploiting Drosophila as a platform to develop anti-amyloid strategies", 55th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. March 01, 2014.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Mutations in helix 3 promote cross-seeding of PrP-WT and neurotoxicity", Prion 2014, Treiste, Italy. January 01, 2014.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Three-dimension magnetic resonance microscopy of the Drosophila brain at 10 micron isotropic resolution", 55th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2014.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Drosophila as a platform to develop anti-amyloid agents", Neurobiology of Drosophila, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, New York. October 01, 2013.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Modeling and understanding prion diseases in Drosophila", National Center for Animal Research (CISA-INIA), Madrid, Spain. October 01, 2013.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "A novel rationally designed chaperone that blocks amyloid beta neurotoxicity", 54th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2013.
Sanchez-Garcia, J., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Polar substitutions in helix 3 produce toxic, transmembrane isoforms of the prion protein", 54th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2013.
Arcia, S. M., Fernandez-Funez, P., Rincon-Limas, D. E. "pΔTubHA4C: A new versatile vector for constitutive expression in Drosophila", 54th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2013.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Zhang, Y. "RAF2 promotes the autophagic degradation of the amyloid-β peptide", Celebration of Research 2013, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida. January 01, 2013.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "RAF2 promotes the autophagic degradation of the amyloid-β peptide", North Florida Chapter Meeting 2013, Society for Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. January 01, 2013.
Emani, S., Fernandez-Funez, P., Rincon-Limas, D. E. "Approaching amyloid beta toxicity with engineered chaperones", Symposium on Creativity in the Arts and Sciences 2013, HHMI Science for Life Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. January 01, 2013.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Anti-Aβ miniantibodies suppress Aβ42 neurotoxicity in flies", 54th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2013.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "RAF2 promotes the autophagic degradation of the amyloid-β peptide", 54th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2013.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Misfolding and neurotoxicity of amyloids in Drosophila", The Brown Foundation, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas. October 01, 2012.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Misfolding and neurotoxicity of amyloids in Drosophila", Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. October 01, 2012.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Strategies to understand amyloids in Drosophila", VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB and KU Leuven School of Medicine, Belgium. May 01, 2012.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Strategies to understand amyloids in Drosophila", School of Biology, Universidad Autonoma de Mardid, Madrid, Spain. May 01, 2012.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Jensen, K. "Neurodegeneration in a Temporally-Controlled Fly Model of Huntington’s Disease", 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2012.
Herrera, J., Fernandez-Funez, P. "The prion protein binds to Synapsin and Syntaxin in the presynaptic neuromuscular junction", 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2012.
Bacher, R. L., Fernandez-Funez, P., McIntyre, L. "Statistical models for RNA-seq data", 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chiacgo, Illinois. January 01, 2012.
Zhang, Y., Fernandez-Funez, P., Rincon-Limas, D. E. "pHA4C plasmids: A new modular series of vectors for constitutive and Gal4-mediated expression in Drosophila", Florida Genetics 2012, UF Genetics Institute, Gainesville, Florida. January 01, 2012.
Perez, B., Fernandez-Funez, P. "pΔTubHA4C: A new versatile vector for constitutive expression in Drosophila", 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2012.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Sanchez-Garcia, J. "Identification of protective and pathogenic residues in the prion protein", 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2012.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Zhang, Y. "A combinatorial drug cocktail rescues Prion Protein neurotoxicity in flies", 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2012.
Arbelaez, D., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Mutations that destabilize helix-3 induce aberrant processing of the Prion Protein", 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2012.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Mutations that destabilize helix-3 induce aberrant processing of the Prion Protein", Drosophila Neurobiology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York. January 01, 2011.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Mechanisms of prion protein misfolding", New Innovator Awardee Workshop, Bethesda, Maryland. January 01, 2011.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Zou, W. Q. "Amyloid-β42 interacts with insoluble prion protein in the Alzheimer’s brain", Prion 2011, Montreal, Canada. January 01, 2011.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Exploring the mechanisms of prion protein misfolding in flies", Prion 2011, Montreal, Canada. January 01, 2011.
Jensen, K., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Mechanisms of prion protein misfolding", Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2011.
Zhang, Y., Fernandez-Funez, P. "pTubHA4C: A new vector for constitutive expression in Drosophila", Annual Drosophila Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2011.
Sanchez-Garcia, J., Fernandez-Funez, P. "The PrP-N158D substitution confers conformational stability and prevents prion disease", Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2011.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "The prion protein induces vacuolation of central synapses and mitochondrial pathology in muscle fibers", Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2011.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Understanding prion protein misfolding and disease", Pioneer Symposium, Bethesda, Maryland. January 01, 2011.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "The PrP-N158D substitution confers conformational stability and prevents prion disease", Prion 2011, Montreal, Canada. January 01, 2011.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Using Drosophila to uncover the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases", Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain. September 01, 2010.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Using Drosophila to uncover the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases", Centro de Biologia Molecular, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid-CSIC, Madrid, Spain. September 01, 2010.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Sequence-dependent prion protein misfolding and neurotoxicity", NeuroFly 2010, Manchester, United Kingdom. January 01, 2010.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "XBP1s prevents Amyloid-beta neurotoxicity by regulating Ryanodine Ca2+ channels", International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, Honolulu, Hawaii. January 01, 2010.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Mechanisms of prion protein misfolding", Pioneer Symposium, Bethesda, Maryland. January 01, 2010.
Sanchez-Garcia, J., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Sequence-dependent prion protein misfolding and neurotoxicity", 51st Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2010.
Sanchez-Garcia, J., Fernandez-Funez, P. "The ER stress transcription factor XBP1s protects against amyloid-beta neurotoxicity", 51st Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2010.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Sequence-dependent path-biology of prion proteins: Lessons from rabbits, mice and hamsters", Prion 2009, Thessaloniki-Chalkidiki, Greece. September 01, 2009.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Prion protein misfolding: Mechanisms and disease relevance", Department de Genètica, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. July 01, 2009.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Prion protein misfolding: Mechanisms and disease relevance", Department de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut (CEXS), Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. July 01, 2009.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "The ER stress factor XBP1 protects against amyloid-beta neurotoxicity", Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. March 01, 2009.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Genetic approaches to understand and treat complex neurodegenerative disorders", Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida. February 01, 2009.
Rincon-Limas, D. E., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Sequence-dependent pathobiology of prion proteins: Lessons from rabbits, mice and hamsters", 50th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2009.
Zhang, Y., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Generation of neurotoxic prion protein isoforms and the role for hsp70 in prion protein conversion", 36th Annual Meeting of the Texas Genetics Society, Austin. January 01, 2009.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "The ER stress transcription factor XBP1s protects against amyloid-beta neurotoxicity", International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2009, Vienna, Austria. January 01, 2009.
Morales-Garza, M., Fernandez-Funez, P., Rincon-Limas, D. E. "Sequence-dependent Prion Protein conversion: Lessons from rabbits, mice and hamsters", 36th Annual Meeting of the Texas Genetics Society, Austin, Texas. January 01, 2009.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "XBP1 protects against amyloid-beta neurotoxicity: Implications for Alzheimer's disease", Bazelides Research Symposium, Southeast Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, Houston, Texas. June 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "In vivo generation of neurotoxic prion protein isoforms: Role for hsp70 in prion protein conversion", Prion 2008, Madrid, Spain. January 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Understanding prion protein biology in transgenic flies", 4th Annual NIH Director's Pioneer Award Symposium, NIH, Bethesda. January 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Hsp70 prevents PrP misfolding and neurotoxicity", 49th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Casas-Tinto, S. "Generation of neurotoxic prion protein isoforms and the role for hsp70 in prion protein conversion", 49th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2008.
C., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Generation of neurotoxic prion protein isoforms and the role for hsp70 in prion protein conversion", 35th Annual Meeting of the Texas Genetics Society, College Station, Texas. January 01, 2008.
Gomez-Velazquez, M., Fernandez-Funez, P., Rincon-Limas, D. E. "Modeling prion diseases in flies", 35th Annual Meeting of the Texas Genetics Society, College Station, Texas. January 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Understanding prion protein biology in transgenic flies", Pioneer Symposium, Bethesda, Maryland. January 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Hsp70 prevents PrP misfolding and neurotoxicity", 12th Annual TSE, Baltimore, Maryland. January 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Generation of neurotoxic prion protein isoforms and the role for hsp70 in prion protein conversion", Genetic Analysis, Model Organisms to Human Biology, San Diego, California. January 01, 2008.
Zhang, Y., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Novel suppressors of amyloid-beta neurotoxicity", 35th Annual Meeting of the Texas Genetics Society, College Station, Texas. January 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "FoxK mediates TGF-beta signaling during midgut differentiation", 49th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2008.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Understanding and preventing prion protein conversion in flies", Centro Andaluz de Biologia del Desarrollo (CABD), Sevilla, Spain. June 01, 2007.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Hsp70 protects Drosophila brain neurons against prion-dependent neurodegeneration", 48th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. March 01, 2007.
Casas-Tinto, S., Fernandez-Funez, P. "Hsp70 protects Drosophila brain neurons against prion-dependent neurodegeneration", 21st International Society for Neurochemistry, Cancún, Mexico. January 01, 2007.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Novel suppressors of amyloid-beta neurotoxicity", Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases: Progress and new perspectives, 8th International conference, Salzburg, Austria. January 01, 2007.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Rincon-Limas, D. E. "Hsp70 prevents PrP misfolding and protects Drosophila neurons against PrP neurotoxicity", Prion 2007, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. January 01, 2007.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Hsp70 protects Drosophila brain neurons against prion-dependent neurodegeneration", 48th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Philadelphia. January 01, 2007.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Casas-Tinto, S. "FoxK, a new fork head protein required for Dpp-dependent midgut specification", 48th Annual Drosophila Research Conferece, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. January 01, 2007.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Suppression of amyloid-beta neurotoxicity in flies: New Alzheimer's disease genes", Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico. December 01, 2006.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "The impact of Drosophila melanogaster in developmental biology and evolution", Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico. April 01, 2006.
Martin-Pena, A., Fernandez-Funez, P., Ferrus, A. "Insulin receptor-independent PI3K signaling induces synaptogenesis in aged Drosophila", 47th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Houston, Texas. January 01, 2006.
Branco, J., Fernandez-Funez, P., Botas, J. "Genetic modifiers in Drosophila reveal common and distinct mechanisms of pathogenesis among polyglutamine diseases", 47th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Houston, Texas. January 01, 2006.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Curing a sick fly: From bench to bedside", Institute of Neurosciences, Univ. Miguel Hernandez, Alicante, Spain. April 01, 2005.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "dCBP mediates Polyglutamine aggregation and contributes to Polyglutamine-induced neurodegeneration", 46th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. April 01, 2005.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Curing a sick fly: From bench to bedside", Institute Cajal-CSIC, Madrid, Spain. April 01, 2005.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Evolutionary conservation of the selector activity of LIM-HD proteins", Center for Molecular Biology (CBM)-Severo Ochoa, Univ. Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. April 01, 2005.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "dlim1 organizes ventral appendage development in Drosophila", 46th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2005.
Rincon-Limas, D. E., Fernandez-Funez, P., Botas, J. "Evolutionary conservation of regulatory networks", 46th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Deigo, California. January 01, 2005.
Al-Ramahi, I., Fernandez-Funez, P., Botas, J. "42-induced Tau neuropathology in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s disease", 45th Annual Drosophila Research Conferece, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2004.
Branco, J., Fernandez-Funez, P., Botas, J. "Mub: A modifier of polyglutamine-induced neurodegeneration that encodes an RNA-binding protein", 45th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2004.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Akt and 14-3-3 mediate neurodegeneration in a fly model of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 1", Neurobiology of Drosophila, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, New York, New York. October 01, 2003.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Drosophila as a tool in the quest for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders", Grand Rounds Department of Neurology, UTMB, Galveston, Texas. September 01, 2003.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Role of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases in fly models of polyglutamine toxicity", 44th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. March 01, 2003.
Rincon-Limas, D. E., Fernandez-Funez, P., Botas, J. "Conservation of enhancers and regulatory networks from Drosophila to mice", 44th Annual Drosophila Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2003.
Branco, J., Fernandez-Funez, P., Botas, J. "Mub: A modifier of polyglutamine-induced neurodegeneration that encodes an RNA-binding protein", Neurobiology of Drosophila, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, New York. January 01, 2003.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Probing polyglutamine neurodegeneration with Drosophila: Therapeutic opportunities in neurodegenerative diseases", Cold Spring Harbor, New York. December 01, 2002.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Identification of genetic modifiers in a Drosophila model of Huntington’s disease", 43rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, California. January 01, 2002.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "HD and SCA1 fly models identify genetic and pharmacological modifiers of polyglutamine-dependent neurodegeneration", Changes Advances and Good News (CAG)n, Cambridge, Massachusetts. January 01, 2002.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Identification of genetic modifiers in a Drosophila model of Huntington's disease", Neurobiology of Drosophila, Cold Spring Harbor, New York. October 01, 2001.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "dlim1 plays an essential role in the specification of ventral appendages", 42nd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2001.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Searching for genetic modifiers in a Drosophila model of Huntington’s disease", 42nd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. January 01, 2001.
Rincon-Limas, D. E., Fernandez-Funez, P., Botas, J. "Genetic screen in Drosophila identifies novel suppressors and enhancers of polyglutamine disease (SCA1)", 14th International Congress of Developmental Biology, Kyoto, Japan. January 01, 2001.
Fernandez-Funez, P., Botas, J., Nino-Rosales, L. "Searching for genetic modifiers in a Drosophila model of Huntington's disease", 14th International Congress of Developmental Biology, Kyoto, Japan. January 01, 2001.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Drosophila as a model system to study human neurodegenerative diseases", 41st Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2000.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Chaperones and the proteolytic pathway as modifiers of neural degeneration in a fly model of spinocerebellar ataxia type I", 41st Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Chicago, Illinois. January 01, 2000.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "Drosophila as a model system to investigate neurodegeneration", 40th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Bellevue, Washington. January 01, 1999.
Fernandez-Funez, P. "The dLdb/Chip co-factor is required for apterous function: Developmental Biology: The genetic control of morphogenesis", European Science Foundation, Lenggries, Germany. June 01, 1998.
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Professional Memberships
Academic Editor, PlosOne
Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee
Grant Reviewer, NIH, Neuroscience & Genetics
Grant Reviewer, National Ataxia Foundation
Grant Reviewer, Medical Research Council (UK)
Grant Reviewer, Department of Defense (DoD)
Grant Reviewer, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Faculty, Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program
Faculty, Institute for Translational Neuroscience