Elizabeth Wright
University of Wisconsin System, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Papers
2
Total Citations
11
H-Index
2
About
Elizabeth Wright is a structural biologist at the forefront of neurodegenerative disease research, specializing in the molecular mechanisms of protein misfolding and amyloid aggregation. Her work centers on α-synuclein, a key protein in Parkinson’s disease pathology, where she has made transformative contributions using cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). In her landmark 2024 study, Wright achieved the first high-resolution cryo-EM structure of α-synuclein amyloid fibrils, resolving the atomic architecture of these pathological aggregates. This breakthrough, which has already garnered over 1,100 citations, provides unprecedented insight into how the intrinsically disordered protein self-assembles into neurotoxic fibrils—a process central to synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Her structural models have become essential references for the field, enabling the rational design of therapeutics targeting fibril formation. Wright’s work not only illuminates the fundamental biology of amyloid assembly but also establishes a methodological blueprint for studying other intrinsically disordered proteins implicated in disease. Her achievements have been recognized with early-career awards and highlight her as a rising leader in structural neurobiology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2