Dr. Charles A. Gersbach's lab at Duke University focuses on harnessing the immune system to enhance cancer treatments, particularly through adoptive T cell therapy. They use cutting-edge techniques to understand how to improve T cell function by manipulating specific genes and regulatory elements. The lab aims to make advancements in epigenetic engineering to create more effective cancer therapies and to systematically study gene regulatory elements that can impact diverse biological processes.

Dr. Hao F Zhang's lab focuses on advancing glaucoma diagnosis and treatment through innovative imaging techniques. Their main project involves developing a novel visible-light optical coherence tomography (vis-OCT) system that can visualize retinal structures and measure oxygen levels in the eye more accurately than existing technologies. This work aims to detect early signs of glaucoma and monitor its progression, ultimately improving patient care.

Dr. Pallavi Tiwari's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on advancing non-invasive imaging techniques to better understand glioblastoma, a challenging brain cancer. The lab is developing innovative radiomic spatial maps to accurately identify the extent of viable tumors in MRI scans, helping clinicians differentiate between tumor infiltration and normal brain edema. This research aims to improve treatment planning and outcomes for patients with glioblastoma by reducing the need for invasive biopsies.

Dr. Daniel R Wahl's lab at the University of Michigan focuses on understanding and targeting the unique metabolism of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The lab aims to develop innovative methods to measure metabolic activity in tumors, which can help doctors identify the best treatment strategies. By exploring how glioblastoma cells adapt their metabolism to resist treatments like radiation, the lab hopes to improve patient outcomes and discover new therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Markus Bredel's lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind gliomas, a type of aggressive brain tumor that originates from neural progenitor cells. The research explores how specific genetic alterations, particularly involving the NFKBIA gene, influence chromatin structure and gene regulation during the development of these tumors. By studying these processes, the lab aims to identify potential therapeutic targets for gliomas and decipher how neural cell differentiation can lead to cancer.

Dr. Anuradha Godavarty's lab focuses on developing innovative smartphone-based tools to improve the assessment and management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). By combining imaging technology with machine learning algorithms, their goal is to create a device that can accurately analyze wound oxygenation and characteristics, which is crucial for timely clinical intervention. This research places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, ensuring that the tools developed can address the needs of diverse patient populations with varying skin tones.

Dr. Amirhossein Goldan's lab focuses on developing advanced imaging technologies for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. They work on a portable, high-resolution PET scanner that improves the detection of tau protein deposits in the brain, which are indicative of Alzheimer's. This innovative approach aims to enhance accessibility to brain imaging and improve the accuracy of Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Dr. Laleh Golestani Rad's lab focuses on improving the safety of patients with implantable medical devices who require MRI scans. They research how radiofrequency heating can affect these devices, particularly in low-field MRI systems. Their goal is to create safe imaging practices that will allow more patients to benefit from necessary MRI diagnostics without risking injury.

Dr. Manu Goyal's lab focuses on understanding the metabolic dysfunctions associated with Alzheimer's disease using advanced imaging techniques. By examining how amyloid plaques impact brain metabolism at both the cellular and network levels, the lab aims to unravel the connections between these metabolic changes and the progression of dementia. Ultimately, the research seeks to determine if treatments targeting amyloid can reverse these dysfunctions, paving the way for improved therapies for Alzheimer’s patients.

Dr. Maria Adela Grando's lab focuses on improving the care and treatment of patients with substance use disorders (SUD) by addressing privacy concerns associated with sharing health records. Through interdisciplinary research, the lab aims to understand and enhance the way sensitive health data can be shared among healthcare providers while protecting patient confidentiality. Their work involves developing automated methods for data segmentation that facilitate better communication and delivery of care for those affected by SUD.

Dr. Joel S. Greenberger's lab at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on innovative approaches to protect against radiation injuries, particularly the acute gastrointestinal syndrome caused by total body or partial body irradiation. The lab is pioneering the use of engineered probiotics to deliver therapeutic molecules that restore intestinal health and promote recovery. Their work aims to develop safe and effective treatments that could be used in emergency situations, such as nuclear accidents or cancer therapies.

Dr. William Grissom's lab focuses on developing innovative techniques for prostate cancer surgery to reduce complications associated with traditional invasive procedures. By integrating low-field MRI with a specialized robotic system, the lab aims to create a minimally invasive approach that allows surgeons to precisely target and remove cancerous tissue while preserving healthy tissue. This research can potentially revolutionize the treatment of prostate cancer, enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.

Dr. Deliang Guo's lab at Ohio State University focuses on finding new treatment strategies for glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive brain tumor. The research explores how GBM cells utilize lipids and glutamine for growth and survival, aiming to disrupt these processes to develop effective therapies. By studying lipid metabolism and testing new drug combinations, the lab hopes to identify safer and more effective ways to treat this challenging disease.

Ophelia Venturelli's lab at Duke University focuses on how dietary fibers influence the gut microbiome and the colonization of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in humans. Through innovative methods including human studies and computational modeling, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms by which diet affects microbial dynamics and health. Ultimately, the lab seeks to develop strategies that can reduce MDRO infections.

Dr. Mohamad Habes' lab focuses on understanding Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) by exploring the connection between vascular health and cognitive decline, particularly among diverse populations such as Mexican Americans. The lab employs advanced imaging techniques and machine learning to analyze brain scans and biomarkers in order to identify key factors that contribute to dementia. Their goal is to develop innovative methods for detecting and characterizing neurovascular contributions to cognitive impairment, especially in under-researched ethnic groups.

Dr. Michelle Hampson's lab at Yale University focuses on innovative treatments for adolescents with Tourette Syndrome using neurofeedback techniques. Their current research is a clinical trial that helps participants learn to control specific areas of their brain to reduce tic severity through targeted mental strategies. The lab aims to confirm the effectiveness of this intervention and analyze its impact on brain connectivity and behavior.

Dr. William Hancock's lab focuses on understanding how tiny motor proteins, called kinesin and dynein, transport materials within cells, especially in neurons. They study the molecular mechanics of this transport system which is crucial for neuron function and is affected in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. The lab also investigates how microtubules, the structures that support this transport, grow and shrink, which is essential for cell division and neuron development.

Dr. Mohammad Haris's lab focuses on understanding Alzheimer's disease by exploring the role of neuroinflammation and developing new imaging methods to monitor it. Their research aims to connect neuroinflammation to disease progression and metabolic changes in the brain through innovative techniques. By working with mouse models and advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods, they hope to create new diagnostic tools that can improve how we detect and treat Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Timothy D. Harris's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on developing advanced techniques for brain-wide electrophysiology in freely moving rodents. The lab is pioneering robotic-assisted surgeries for implanting multiple probes, improving data acquisition methods, and creating automated data analysis pipelines. This research aims to enhance our understanding of how different brain regions work together during behaviors like navigation.

Dr. Bin He’s lab focuses on developing advanced imaging techniques to help improve surgical outcomes for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. They use innovative machine learning methods to analyze brain activity, particularly during seizures, with a goal of accurately identifying the areas of the brain responsible for seizures. This work could lead to better surgical planning and ultimately improve the lives of many patients suffering from epilepsy.