Dr. Peter Aidan Savage's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on understanding the interactions between regulatory T cells and B cells, particularly in the context of autoimmune diseases. The lab investigates how specific subtypes of regulatory T cells can regulate self-reactive B cells, which are implicated in the development of autoimmune conditions. By exploring these immunological relationships, the lab aims to unveil mechanisms that maintain immune tolerance and prevent autoimmunity.

Dr. John E. Downey's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on enhancing brain-computer interfaces to help individuals with paralysis use prosthetic arms more effectively in daily life. The team investigates how to improve the coordination of arm and hand movements and harness more brain activity for better decoding. By developing biomimetic decoders and testing them in realistic virtual scenarios, they aim to create more reliable and flexible assistive technologies for users.

Dr. Ruth Anne Eatock's lab at the University of Chicago studies how the inner ear processes head movements to maintain balance and stable vision. The research focuses on different types of hair cells in the vestibular system, examining how they send signals to the brain during motion. By understanding the mechanisms behind sensory signal integration and how different nerve fibers encode head motion, this lab contributes to our understanding of balance and spatial orientation.

Dr. Daria Esterhazy's lab focuses on understanding how certain immune cells, known as innate lymphocytes, develop and function in the body. These cells play a crucial role in our immune responses, particularly in how we react to infections and other challenges. The research involves exploring the genetic regulation of these cells to better understand their roles in health and disease, which could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases and infections.

Dr. Scott A. Oakes' lab at the University of Chicago focuses on understanding how the exocrine pancreas, specifically the enzyme pancreatic elastase, impacts the health of insulin-producing beta cells and contributes to type 1 diabetes. The lab investigates the crosstalk between exocrine and endocrine cells in the pancreas, exploring how dysregulation can trigger inflammation and autoimmunity. Their research aims to develop new therapeutic strategies to protect beta cells and potentially prevent type 1 diabetes.

David Freedman's research lab at the University of Chicago focuses on understanding how the brain makes quick decisions based on visual information. Through the study of neuronal activity in specific brain areas, the lab investigates how we learn to categorize visual stimuli, which is crucial for navigating our daily lives. Their work has important implications for treating cognitive disorders that affect visual recognition and decision-making, such as Alzheimer's disease and attention deficit disorder.

Dr. Thomas F Gajewski's lab focuses on improving cancer immunotherapy treatments by investigating why some patients do not respond to anti-PD-1 therapies. By studying the immune environment of tumors and the genetics involved, the lab aims to discover new ways to enhance the effectiveness of these therapies. The research combines insights from clinical samples and mouse models to explore various avenues for boosting anti-tumor immune responses.

Dr. Sarah Cobey's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on understanding immune responses to influenza vaccination. They use computational models to explore how individual differences affect vaccine effectiveness, and the lab aims to improve vaccine design based on these insights. By analyzing immune responses over time, they seek to identify factors that contribute to better protection against influenza infection.

The lab led by Dr. Narayanan Kasthuri at the University of Chicago focuses on advancing microscopy techniques to better understand brain connectivity. Their innovative research involves developing a new type of electron microscope that utilizes photonic technology to enable high-resolution imaging of the brain's neural connections. This technology aims to make connectomics more accessible and efficient, paving the way for detailed studies of brain structure in various organisms.

Dr. Barbara Kee's lab studies natural killer (NK) cells, which are crucial for our body’s defense against viral infections and cancer. The group focuses on understanding the role of a specific protein called BATF in regulating NK cell behavior during infections and tumor responses. By exploring how NK cells can be enhanced or altered, the lab aims to develop potential therapies that can leverage NK cells to better fight diseases like tumors and viral infections.

Dr. Wei Wei's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on understanding how neurons in the retina, specifically starburst amacrine cells, process visual motion signals. By examining the dynamic interactions between a neuron’s physical structure and its input from other neurons, the lab aims to uncover principles of how motion detection happens at a cellular level. This research has implications for understanding normal vision and could help in treating visual disorders.

The lab of Callum F. Ross at the University of Chicago investigates how the brain controls the movements of the tongue, which is crucial for eating and speaking. They study the biomechanics of tongue movement by analyzing muscle and brain activity during various feeding behaviors. This research aims to improve rehabilitation methods for individuals who have lost normal tongue function due to diseases or surgeries.

Dr. Mark Sheffield's research lab focuses on understanding the brain mechanisms behind fear memories, particularly in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His team investigates how specific brain regions communicate to suppress fearful memories and aid in the extinction process, helping to provide insights that could lead to better treatments for PTSD. Utilizing advanced techniques like virtual reality and two-photon microscopy, they explore the interactions between the thalamus and hippocampus, key areas involved in memory processing.

Dr. Savas Tay's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on how cells communicate and process information in complex environments. The lab combines experimental techniques with advanced technologies to analyze single cells, particularly in the context of immune signaling in health and disease. By understanding these processes, the research aims to improve therapies for various conditions, including cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Dr. S. Murray Sherman's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on the interactions between the thalamus and the cortex in the brain, specifically how these structures communicate to influence sensory processing and cognitive functions. The research aims to uncover the role of lesser-known thalamic nuclei in the flow of information across cortical areas, which could provide insights into cognitive disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Alexander V. Chervonsky's lab focuses on understanding how sex differences and diet impact autoimmune diseases, particularly Type 1 diabetes (T1D). They study the role of hormones and gut microbes in disease mechanisms and are exploring dietary interventions that may help prevent or treat these conditions. By combining experimental models and advanced computational methods, the lab aims to identify new approaches to manage autoimmune diseases that disproportionately affect women.

Dr. Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos leads a research lab at the University of Chicago focused on enhancing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to enable more dexterous control of robotic prosthetic limbs. The lab investigates how the brain encodes both hand movements and the forces exerted during tasks like grasping and transporting objects. By studying neural signals in the motor and somatosensory cortices, the team aims to develop advanced algorithms that improve the performance and feedback of brain-controlled prosthetics.

Dr. Joseph Thornton's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on understanding how proteins evolve and acquire new functions over time. Utilizing innovative techniques like ancestral protein reconstruction, the team examines the genetic and biochemical changes that lead to complex features in proteins, including their ability to interact in large complexes and respond to regulatory signals. Their research aims to reveal the historical pathways of protein evolution and how they can inform our understanding of health and disease.