Rebecca L Lamason's lab at MIT focuses on understanding how certain bacteria, specifically Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia, interact with their hosts to cause disease. The lab investigates the role of secreted bacterial proteins that manipulate host cell processes, aiming to unveil their complex life cycles and enhance our knowledge about tick-borne diseases. This research has the potential to lead to improved treatment and prevention strategies for these infections.

Dr. Hainan Lang's lab at the Medical University of South Carolina focuses on understanding how auditory processing deficits may relate to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). By studying the effects of the MEF2C gene on neuronal and immune system functions, the lab explores how these factors might contribute to communication challenges in children with ASD. The research integrates animal models and advanced techniques to uncover potential therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Robert Arnold Larson's lab at Michigan Technological University studies hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which is a common genetic heart disease linked to serious complications like sudden cardiac death. The lab aims to understand how dysfunctional sensory nerves in the heart contribute to disease progression and explore innovative therapies that could modify the disease. They use animal models to investigate the underlying mechanisms and test potential new treatments.

Dr. Aaron A. Tobian's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding how HIV-1 persists in the body despite treatment. They study the latent viral reservoir found in certain immune cells and how it is maintained or reactivated, especially in people undergoing kidney transplants. By examining the effects of different treatments on these reservoirs, the lab aims to develop strategies for potentially curing HIV.

Dr. Caitlin Shannon Latimer's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease, particularly how tau and TDP-43 proteins interact to worsen the condition. Using C. elegans as a model organism, her research aims to uncover the roles of specific genes and pathways that contribute to the severity of Alzheimer's when TDP-43 is also present. By combining molecular biology techniques with human brain tissue analysis, the lab seeks to identify potential targets for new treatments and diagnostic methods for Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.

Dr. Nathan D Lawson's lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School focuses on understanding the development and function of blood vessels in the body. They study the role that specific cell types, such as pericytes and the gene Rasa1, play in vascular health, particularly during embryonic development. Using zebrafish as a model organism, the lab identifies the genetic and molecular factors that contribute to vascular and lymphatic anomalies, which can lead to serious health conditions.

Dr. Le Cong's lab at Stanford University focuses on developing cutting-edge gene editing technologies using human-derived enzymes. They aim to create a safe and efficient gene editing platform that allows researchers to make precise modifications in the genome without triggering negative immune responses. By utilizing a mitochondrial enzyme called Twinkle, the lab seeks to advance functional genomics and improve the study of various diseases, making it easier to visualize and manipulate proteins within cells.

Dr. Virginia M. Lee's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal tau protein aggregation. The lab aims to uncover how different forms of tau can spread and affect neuron function, ultimately seeking targeted therapeutic strategies to treat conditions like Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal degeneration. Through innovative models and advanced techniques, the team investigates the mechanisms behind tau transmission, which could lead to more effective drug therapies.

Dr. Kevin Legge's lab at the University of Iowa focuses on developing new vaccination strategies against Influenza A viruses, particularly those from avian sources. They are exploring the use of polyanhydride nanoparticles to create a novel vaccine that can induce strong immune responses in the lungs and nasal passages, aiming for broad protection against various strains of the virus. Their research has the potential to improve how vaccines work by promoting long-lasting immunity that is not typically achieved by current vaccines.

Dr. Michael Levitt's lab at Stanford University focuses on using computational biology to understand complex systems, ranging from virus spread to protein dynamics. The lab employs cutting-edge techniques like deep learning to refine protein structures, which could advance drug development. Additionally, they analyze the spread of diseases through simulations and data analysis, aiming to uncover patterns that can help control viral outbreaks.

Dr. Brian C. Lewis's lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School focuses on understanding and potentially treating pancreatic cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths. The lab studies how specific signaling pathways, particularly the MTOR pathway, contribute to tumor growth and survival. They utilize advanced mouse models and human cancer cell lines to investigate the effects of inhibiting this pathway, aiming to find new therapeutic strategies for effective treatment.

Dr. Chan-Hyun Na's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to cognitive and motor function decline. The lab investigates how different brain regions are affected by LBD and how specific cell types contribute to the disease. By using a mouse model that mimics human disease, the research aims to identify key cellular and molecular pathways involved in the vulnerability to LBD and similar neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Liwu Li's lab at Virginia Tech focuses on understanding the immune response during sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by infections. The lab's research aims to uncover how certain immune cells, particularly exhausted monocytes, contribute to both inflammation and immune suppression, which worsens sepsis outcomes. By exploring molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets, the team hopes to develop strategies to improve treatment and recovery for sepsis patients.

Dr. Fei Li's research lab focuses on understanding the centromere, an essential chromatin domain that plays a crucial role in proper chromosome segregation during cell division. By exploring how centromeres are specified and inherited, the lab aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind centromere function, which is linked to various diseases, including cancer and Down syndrome. Using the fission yeast model, the lab combines different disciplines such as genetics, genomics, and structural biology to investigate the intricacies of centromere organization and regulation.

Dr. Bing Li's lab focuses on understanding how a high fat diet leads to obesity and increases the risk of breast cancer. They study a protein called A-FABP, which plays a key role in this connection, particularly in how it interacts with immune cells and cancer cells. By uncovering these mechanisms, the lab aims to identify new ways to prevent breast cancer in individuals with obesity and evaluate A-FABP as a potential biomarker for monitoring breast cancer risk.

Dr. Yi Li's lab focuses on understanding breast cancer risk factors related to childbirth and lactation, as well as developing new rat models to study estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. They investigate how delaying pregnancy might affect women’s cancer risk, especially with regard to lactation's role in tumor development. Additionally, the lab works on characterizing new animal models to better mimic human breast cancer biology and treatment response.

Dr. Jun Li's research lab at Florida International University focuses on understanding how malaria parasites interact with the midgut of their mosquito hosts. By exploring these interactions, the lab aims to identify potential targets for vaccines that could block the transmission of malaria. The long-term goal is to contribute to efforts to reduce malaria cases and deaths worldwide by developing new strategies to disrupt the life cycle of the Plasmodium parasite.

Dr. Hui Li's lab at the University of Virginia focuses on understanding and treating rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft-tissue cancer in children. They have identified a novel oncogene called AVIL, which plays a critical role in the growth and spread of this cancer. The lab is working on developing targeted therapies against AVIL to potentially improve outcomes for patients suffering from advanced-stage rhabdomyosarcoma.

Dr. Jianrong Li's research lab focuses on developing innovative vaccines for gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses. One major project aims to create mucosal vaccines for norovirus, targeting a global health issue where no effective vaccines currently exist. Another project investigates RNA modifications in SARS-CoV-2, which could lead to improved treatments and vaccines against COVID-19. The lab combines advanced viral vector technology with cutting-edge genetic research to address critical public health challenges.

Dr. Andrew P. Lieberman's lab at the University of Michigan focuses on developing therapies for Niemann-Pick Type C disease, a serious genetic disorder that causes neurodegeneration. The research aims to understand the mechanisms behind the disease, particularly the role of cholesterol in brain cells and how novel treatments can alleviate symptoms. Students in this lab will work on innovative approaches to drug development, studying both neuron and oligodendrocyte cell functions in the context of the disease.