STRUCTURAL INSIGHTS INTO AMYLOID DEPOSITION FOR CLINICAL TOOL DESIGN

Our Mission

The Saelices Laboratory is devoted to the study of systemic amyloid diseases—disorders caused by the misfolding of specific proteins that aggregate into amyloid fibrils and deposit in various peripheral organs. These deposits disrupt tissue architecture and function, ultimately leading to organ failure and death. These conditions are often underdiagnosed, complex, and challenging to treat. Our research aims to understand the structural basis and the biology of amyloid formation and its precursors, and to develop clinical tools for early detection and inhibition of amyloids. We take a highly interdisciplinary approach, integrating structural biology, biochemistry, and translational research—including cryo-electron microscopy, peptide design, and ex vivo tissue analysis. Our work is motivated by the ultimate goal of improving clinical outcomes for patients affected by these devastating diseases.

News

Congratulations Rose!
A Blood-Based Diagnostic Breakthrough for Transthyretin Amyloidosis

Biotech Club: Global Paths to Biotech Entrepreneurship
Come see Dr. Lorena Saelices and Dr. Kareem Azab at UTSW’s Biotechnology Club panel on January 21, 2026 and listen to them share the details of their journey transitioning from academia to industry.

Congratulations Mari!
Structural and molecular homogeneity of ATTRv-T60A amyloid fibrils across patients and organs