The Prion Research Institute

The Prion Research Institute is dedicated to studying prions—infectious proteins that cause diseases like mad cow disease and certain brain disorders. Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions are misfolded proteins that can spread by causing normal proteins to also fold abnormally, leading to brain damage. The institute's goal is to understand how prions spread, develop diagnostics, and find treatments. Their research helps improve public health by addressing these rare but fatal diseases and advancing our knowledge of protein misfolding processes involved in other neurological conditions.