Often in medicine edge cases provide insight into a more general mechanism or process (e.g. Li Fraumeni and p53/cancer, retinoblastoma and Rb). Part of my work is considering the idea that prion diseases may be very pure examples of a more general process observed in a huge range of neurological diseases, from ALS to Alzheimers to Huntington's to Parkinsons.
While there is some fantastic work going on at the clinical/in vitro side, I hope that a more general understanding of the physical processes governing phenotype will help provide a broader class of treatments.
WRT Eric and Sonia's passion for the research - I've done research in a range of areas, and I've never found a puzzle as fascinating and as engaging as this. I keeps me up at night. I go through flashes of theories and ideas that I have notebooks full with possible hypotheses and associated experiments. The putative overlap in related and unrelated areas of research, from oxidative damage to epigenetic regulation to arguments relating to 3D diffusion within the cellular environment, is extensive and both a source of inspiration and trepidation. Basically, I can entirely relate to that constant feeling of engagement and interest. My work has accidentally become my hobby, and it's awesome.