Dr. Nadya Dimitrova's lab at Yale University studies the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), particularly Malat1, in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). They focus on how Malat1 contributes to cancer progression and the tumor microenvironment, using advanced mouse models and molecular biology techniques. The lab aims to uncover potential therapeutic targets by understanding how the deregulation of lncRNAs affects cancer development.

Dr. Quyen Quoc Hoang's lab at Indiana University Indianapolis focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of LRRK2, a protein linked to various diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. By exploring how mutations affect LRRK2's structure and function, the lab aims to uncover insights that could lead to new treatments. Students in this lab will work with cutting-edge techniques to study protein dynamics and activity.

Dr. Zhiming Ouyang's lab at the University of South Florida focuses on understanding how the Lyme disease-causing bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi regulates its virulence. By studying a protein called BosR, the lab aims to reveal how this bacterium adapts to its environments, such as ticks and mammals, and uses unique mechanisms to control its infection capabilities. Insights from this research may lead to new treatments or vaccines for Lyme disease, highlighting its importance for public health.

Dr. Tingting Weng Mills' lab at the University of Texas Health Science Center focuses on understanding how macrophages, a type of immune cell, play a role in lung injuries like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). They explore the function of a specific protein called NUDT21 that influences RNA processing in these cells, potentially leading to new treatments for ARDS. By studying how NUDT21 is regulated under conditions like low oxygen, the lab aims to find innovative ways to control inflammation and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Athanassios Siapas leads a research lab focused on understanding how the hippocampus and dopamine influence memory formation. By investigating the interactions between different brain regions during learning, the lab aims to uncover how these processes can be disrupted in memory disorders like Alzheimer's disease. The research combines advanced imaging techniques with pharmacological and optogenetic tools to study memory at the circuit level.

Dr. Fange Liu's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how specific enzymes that modify ribosomal RNA (rRNA) influence the health and functioning of blood stem cells. Particularly, they study a methyltransferase enzyme called DIMT1, which plays crucial roles in both the effectiveness of ribosomes and the expression of genes that are vital for DNA repair and cell survival. The lab aims to uncover how these enzymatic processes affect normal blood cell development and how their dysfunction can lead to disease.

Dr. David L. Bentley's lab at the University of Colorado Denver focuses on understanding how genes get turned into messenger RNA (mRNA), the vital molecules that carry genetic information. They study the processes involved in mRNA production, including how the mRNA is created and then modified before it functions in the body. By examining these critical steps, the lab aims to find out what goes wrong in diseases like cancer when these processes are disrupted.

Dr. Leslie Anne Leinwand's lab focuses on understanding how muscle cells adapt and change in response to various stimuli such as exercise and genetic mutations. They study myosin, a key protein in muscle function, to explore how it is replaced and repaired over time, particularly in relation to heart and skeletal muscles. The lab uses advanced imaging techniques to measure protein turnover and investigate how these processes are influenced by factors like biological sex and disease-causing mutations.

Dr. Ronald S. Rock's lab studies how specific motor proteins called myosins move and function within cells. They focus on myosin-10, which plays a crucial role in delivering important molecules to areas of the cell that help it move, especially during cell division and in cancer metastasis. By understanding how these proteins are regulated and how they navigate within cells, the lab aims to shed light on fundamental biological processes and improve our understanding of cell movement in health and disease.

Dr. Yuanpei Li's lab focuses on developing innovative nanotherapeutics designed to improve treatment for brain cancers, particularly aggressive pediatric tumors like diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and high-grade gliomas in dogs. Through advanced nanoparticle technology, they aim to enhance drug delivery across the challenging blood-brain barrier and overcome resistance to current therapies. By studying both human and canine models, the lab works to create effective treatments that could significantly improve patient outcomes.

Dr. David J. Shapiro's lab focuses on understanding a specific pathway that leads to necrotic cell death in cancer cells, especially in types resistant to traditional therapies. By studying how certain anticancer drugs trigger this process, the lab aims to uncover strategies to improve cancer immunotherapy and combat drug resistance. Their work combines advanced techniques such as CRISPR and mouse models to identify key proteins involved in cell death, which could help in developing more effective treatments for various cancers.

Dr. Bruce D. Carter's lab at Vanderbilt University studies how signals affect the development of the nervous system, particularly focusing on the processes that lead to the degeneration of neurons and connections. The lab aims to understand the mechanisms behind neuronal cell death and how they may contribute to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and autism. By exploring the role of specific receptors and molecular signals, their research seeks to uncover new insights into nervous system development and disease.

Dr. Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos leads a research lab focused on understanding the roles of obscurins, a family of proteins, in heart health and disease. Her work centers on how specific signaling pathways affect the structure and function of cardiac cells, particularly through interactions with N-cadherin, a critical protein involved in heart muscle cell adhesion and communication. This research aims to uncover the mechanisms of cardiac diseases and contribute to developing targeted therapies for heart conditions.

Dr. Mary E. Marquart's lab focuses on developing a new treatment for bacterial endophthalmitis, a serious eye infection that can lead to blindness. The lab is researching a cocktail of antibodies that target the main bacterial culprits responsible for this condition. This innovative approach aims to protect the retina from damage caused by infection and inflammation, offering hope for improved eye treatments in conjunction with traditional antibiotics.

Dr. Carolyn Klinge's lab at the University of Louisville investigates how environmental contaminants, specifically polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), affect liver health and metabolism. By examining RNA modifications, particularly N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A), the lab aims to understand their role in metabolic diseases, especially metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and how factors like diet and sex differences influence these processes. Through innovative techniques, the research seeks potential therapeutic targets for improving liver health in the face of environmental exposure.

Hillel Adesnik's lab at UC Berkeley focuses on understanding how neural circuits in the primary visual cortex process visual information. They study how excitatory and inhibitory neurons interact to help us perceive our surroundings, particularly looking at phenomena like figure/ground segregation. The work involves advanced imaging and optogenetics to explore the detailed architecture and functioning of these circuits.

Dr. Erhu Cao's lab focuses on understanding the structures and functions of proteins related to polycystic kidney disease and cation-chloride cotransporters, which play important roles in kidney function and brain activity. By studying these proteins, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms behind genetic disorders and explore new ways to treat conditions like hypertension, edema, and congenital heart defects. The research combines biochemical and structural analysis to inform the development of targeted therapies.

Dr. Suvobrata Chakravarty's lab focuses on understanding how weak interactions in proteins affect their structure and function. They aim to upgrade a web tool called AQcalc that helps identify these weak interactions and develop experimental methods to test their roles. By gaining insights into these interactions, the lab hopes to find new ways to manipulate proteins which could lead to better health interventions for diseases caused by protein misfolding or aggregation.

Dr. David Matthew Smith's lab at West Virginia University focuses on understanding the role of protein degradation in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's Disease. The lab investigates how the failure of the proteasome system leads to the accumulation of toxic proteins in neurons. By studying unique pathways that bypass traditional protein degradation mechanisms, the lab aims to identify potential therapeutic strategies to enhance neuronal health and combat neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Yi Zuo's lab at UC Santa Cruz explores how psilocybin, a well-known psychedelic, can help counteract the harmful effects of chronic stress on the brain. They study the effects of psilocybin at multiple levels, from synapses to neural circuits, to uncover how it might promote healing in mental health disorders. The lab aims to provide insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of psychedelics, potentially paving the way for new treatments in psychiatry.