Dr. Van Nostrand is interested in understanding the role of amyloid ß-protein precursor (AßPP) and its derived fragment Aß in the cerebrovascular in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. His research focuses on identifying factors that regulate the assembly of Aß peptides in brain, with an emphasis of understanding their pathogenic interactions with cells in cerebral blood vessels that lead to cellular degeneration, loss of vessel wall integrity, and hemorrhagic stroke. His studies in this area are multi-leveled involving basic protein-protein interactions between Aß peptides and distinct chaperone proteins, in vitro cell culture models, and several in vivo transgenic mouse models recently developed in the laboratory. In addition, he has a strong interest in physiologic functions of AßPP in regulating hemostatic mechanisms. To this end he utilizes several in vivo mouse gene knockout and transgenic models to elucidate the role of AßPP in vascular processes involved in coagulation, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

Dr. Van Nostrand earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, CA.