Dr. Westaway’s research in prion biology has focused on the genetic basis of disease susceptibility, metal-binding properties of PrP, and two new members of the PrP protein family called doppel and shadoo.  His current work is directed towards an understanding of 1) the roles of the PrP, shadoo and chaperones in prion disease 2) common features in the pathogenesis of prion disease and Alzheimer’s Disease and 3) novel roles of cellular prion proteins in protecting neurons against irreversible damage.