Proteins must fold properly in order to function. When protein misfolding occurs, severe problems can arise. Protein misfolding underpins many devastating diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Meredith Jackrel’s lab is interested in understanding how protein misfolding occurs and how it can lead to disease. They are particularly interested in protein disaggregases, which can prevent and even reverse protein misfolding, solubilizing protein accumulations that are otherwise intractable. They aim to better understand how protein disaggregases solubilize such highly stable species. Additionally, they are employing various protein engineering techniques in order to fine-tune the properties of protein disaggregases.