"Science is a journey. You might start with a belief or an idea, but ultimately, you go where the science takes you," says Dr. Rakez Kayed, Professor of the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders and John Sealy Chair for Parkinson's Research at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Guided by this approach, Kayed has led a journey of discovery that began in a small lab with only three members and has since expanded into a prominent research hub dedicated to tackling neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
When Kayed first arrived at UTMB in 2007, just six months before Hurricane Ike, the lab was modest—a single room shared by a small team. Since then, it has evolved into a large, bustling space, supported by multiple NIH grants and recognized as a leader in tau protein research. Kayed's lab is not only developing potential treatments but also spearheading global collaborations to understand these complex diseases better.
The lab’s most recent work has garnered global attention—a revolutionary new approach to combating Alzheimer's in the form of a nasal spray. This potential game-changer aims to deliver antibodies directly to the brain. Early studies on mice models have shown promising results, hinting at the possibility of treating the disease in a way that was previously unthinkable. With this development, Kayed’s research is on the cusp of fundamentally transforming the landscape of Alzheimer’s treatment, offering hope where few options currently exist.
"There are hundreds of thousands, even millions, of proteins in the human body,” Kayed says. “Although they are all made up of the same 20 amino acids, the combinations and roles are endless. That challenge is what drew me to this field.”
His fascination with proteins began during his training as a medicinal chemist. His interest led him to study protein misfolding and aggregation, which play a pivotal role in many conditions beyond neurodegeneration, including type 2 diabetes and amyloidosis. However, the brain's limited regenerative capacity makes neurodegenerative diseases particularly intractable and devastating.
The Kayed lab takes a comprehensive approach, from the biophysics of protein aggregation to testing potential therapies in cellular and animal models. The team’s overarching hypothesis is that multiple drugs may be needed to address the complexity of protein aggregation in different patients.
"We’ve developed six antibodies that we believe should be evaluated in human trials because one drug may not work for everybody," Kayed emphasizes.
Kayed also leads an NIH-funded network for tau proteins, which facilitates collaboration across institutions worldwide to better understand the mechanisms of disease progression and to develop new biomarkers for diagnosis.
"These diseases overlap in symptoms and pathology because different protein aggregates can converge, creating a complex clinical picture," he says.
The lab’s work is aimed not only at treatments but also at advancing the field's understanding of the role protein aggregates play in disease.
Kayed credits the team for their shared commitment to discovery.
“From the beginning, we worked as a small, close-knit team, and we’ve maintained that culture as we’ve grown,” he shares.
He believes in leading from the front—often spending time in the lab conducting basic experiments alongside his team.
“It’s about creating a space where everyone feels respected and valued,” he says. “The lab is my safe haven, where we work together to overcome challenges.”
One of the lab's most ambitious goals is to take its research from the lab to patients. Within the next three years, Kayed aims to bring at least one of their antibody therapies to clinical trials. He acknowledges the hurdles—particularly the infrastructure challenges that have persisted since Hurricane Ike—but remains optimistic.
"With new leadership and fresh ideas, there’s a renewed sense of momentum at UTMB,” he says. “The timing is right, and we’re making steady progress.”
As for advice to the next generation of scientists, Kayed encourages them to embrace the unpredictability of research.
“Follow the data, not your hypotheses,” he advises. “Science is about discovery, not proving what you already think is true. There’s no greater reward than discovery.”