Dr. Barbara Karten

Biography

Barbara Karten is a Professor and the Department Head at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Dalhousie University. She has been a faculty member since 2005 and has focused her research on cholesterol metabolism, particularly in relation to neurodegenerative diseases. Her work investigates cholesterol homeostasis and the implications of disrupted cholesterol trafficking in the brain, which is responsible for synthesizing its own cholesterol due to the blood-brain barrier's restriction on cholesterol crossing. Her research also delves into Niemann-Pick Type C disease, exploring the consequences of NPC1 deficiency and its impact on synaptic function. Additionally, her lab examines the mechanisms of cholesterol import into mitochondria, highlighting the link between cholesterol and mitochondrial dysfunction in neurons vulnerable to energy demands. She has published numerous articles in reputable journals, contributing significantly to the fields of biochemistry and neuroscience, particularly in understanding the relationships between lipid metabolism and neuronal function.

Research Interests

Experience