IRCND

Dr. Leonard Petrucelli, PhD is the Ralph B. and Ruth K. Abrams Professor of Neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, where his lab works on understanding the molecular mechanisms that underly abnormal protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Petrucelli and his research team are constantly at the forefront of their field, researching the mechanisms that cause degeneration in Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and harnessing their findings into the development of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

Seminal findings from his team include the discovery of a hallmark of C9orf72-linked FTD and ALS (c9FTD/ALS): c9RAN proteins (dipeptide repeats). These proteins result from a mutation in the C9orf72 gene. His team is investigating the significance of c9RAN proteins in various cell models, including patient-derived fibroblasts, and in vivo systems. His lab also recently discovered that the enzyme HDAC6 may be an effective strategy to effectively arrest the toxic accumulation of tau protein, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. Dr. Petrucelli's team has also shown that detection of c9RAN proteins in cerebrospinal fluid of patients carrying the C9orf72 mutation holds promise as a potential biomarker. More recently, his group has identified a novel tau protein that can be detected in Alzheimer's disease patients.

Professor Chiara Zurzolo, MD, PhD, is head of the Membrane Trafficking and Pathogenesis Unit and Director of the Brain connectivity and neurodegenerative diseases research program at the Institut Pasteur (Paris), where she studies the mechanisms of protein trafficking in health and diseases with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors.

She received her MD and then PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University of Naples Federico II. She then obtained a postdoctoral fellowship to spend four years at Cornell Medical School, New York where she uncovered some of the mechanisms of apical protein trafficking in polarized epithelial cells. In 1995, she returned to Naples to establish her laboratory at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at Naples University Federico II as a professor of Cell Biology.

In 2015, she was elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and promoted Professor at Institut Pasteur. In 2019, she was a visiting scholar at Harvard University, sponsored by the Radcliffe Fellowship. Her international reputation leads her to conferences and seminars all over the world. She is also very involved in teaching and organizing national/international conferences and courses.

Dr. Don W. Cleveland is the Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at University of California San Diego. Dr. Cleveland is a cancer biologist and neuroscientist that has made ground-breaking contributions in the regulation of assembly of mitotic spindles and chromosome movement. He discovered the microtubule associated protein tau (mutation in which causes human cognitive disease), the tubulin gene families encoding the major subunits of microtubules, and the first mammalian example of control of gene expression through regulated RNA instability.

Dr. Cleveland showed that disorganization of neurofilaments causes selective failure of motor neurons in mice and humans. He then demonstrated that similar disease could also arise by a toxicity of mutant superoxide dismutase unrelated to its normal activity, thereby uncovering the mechanism underlying a major genetic form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He also showed that motor neuron death in inherited ALS is non-cell autonomous, requiring mutant damage to both motor neurons and the neighboring supporting cells. This discovery has wide implications for other major neurodegenerative diseases.

The airport is located at 3400 NE 39th Avenue, and it's about 6 miles from the airport to campus. For Gainesville Regional Airport information, you can visit flygainesville.com or call (352) 373-0249. To get from Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) to downtown Gainesville/hotels/UF, you can take a taxi, rideshare (Uber or Lyft), or the RTS bus route #26.

• Taxi: Taxicabs are available at the airport, and you can summon one by pressing the red taxi call button located on columns outside the terminal.You can also call:
  • G Taxi: (352) 777-9488
  • Murphy’s Taxi: (352) 301-2096
  • 24 Hour Gainesville 1st. Cab: (352) 792-4000
• Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Both Uber and Lyft operate at the airport, offering private rides, premium cars, and more cost-effective options. You can request a ride right away or reserve one for later.
• RTS Bus: The Gainesville Regional Airport is served by RTS Route #26. You can check the RTS website or call (352) 334-2600 for days of operation, schedule, and route information.

• Car rentals: At Orlando International Airport (MCO), car rental counters are located on Level 1 in Terminals A and B, and at Level 4 in Terminal C, with vehicles located on the first floor of the parking garage across the street from the terminals.
• Bus Line: The Red Coach line can picks up in Orlando to UF campus Red Coach Bus Line. You must take an Uber to the Red Coach pickup station (1777 Mc Coy Road, Orlando) - Short ride from MCO airport. Bus drops off at UF (1956 Gale Lemerand Drive, Gainesville).
• AC Hotel & Holiday Inn are about is 1.2 miles from the bus drop-off.
• Reitz Union Hotel is 0.4 miles from bus drop-off.

• Car rentals: At Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), rental car agencies are located on the lower level of the terminal building, adjacent to baggage claim, with rental cars parked outside the baggage claim area.

• Car rentals: At Tampa International Airport (TPA), the car rental companies are located in the Rental Car Center, reachable via the SkyConnect train from the Main Terminal. After baggage claim, follow signs to the SkyConnect train station. Take the SkyConnect train to the Rental Car Center. Exit the SkyConnect train and proceed to the rental car counters.

This is a local agency. They offer in-home nanny care on a full-time or part-time basis and emphasize thorough screening of their nannies, including background checks and in-person interviews.

https://twinkletoesnanny.com/gainesville
Phone: 352.538.2012
Email: kristy@twinkletoesnanny.com

Portal with things to do with kids in Gainesville. Activities for kids and families, youth sports, seasonal events, ongoing programs and summer camps, and sitting services.

https://fun4gatorkids.com/

This platform focuses on connecting families with college nannies and sitters from the University of Florida. They provide background checks and online booking for convenience.

https://www.urbansitter.com/college-nannies-and-sitters/university-of-florida

This is a national agency with a Gainesville/Ocala branch. They highlight their screening process, which includes background checks and interviews, and emphasize their customer service.

https://www.nannypoppinz.com/agency/services-florida.aspx