Dr. Swetha Gowrishankar's lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago focuses on understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease through a process called autophagy, which helps cells recycle and maintain their health. The lab's goal is to develop small molecules that can improve autophagy and potentially halt disease progression by restoring balance in neuronal environments. This research aims to create innovative therapeutic options that go beyond current treatments, targeting the root causes of cell damage instead of just the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Dr. Stephanie M Cologna's lab focuses on finding new treatments for Niemann-Pick disease type C1, a severe disorder that affects the body's ability to manage cholesterol and can lead to early death. The lab works on understanding how specific peptides can improve cholesterol storage issues associated with this disease. Through biochemical studies and innovative techniques, the team aims to uncover new therapeutic methods to combat this currently untreatable condition, potentially extending the lives of affected individuals.

Dr. Wonhwa Cho's lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago focuses on how lipids regulate the interactions between proteins in cells. Their research investigates the role of membrane lipids, like cholesterol, in controlling cellular signaling pathways, which are essential for normal health and can lead to diseases like cancer when disrupted. By understanding these lipid-protein interactions better, the lab aims to develop innovative strategies for drug discovery that could significantly impact treatment options for various human diseases.

Dr. Huan-Xiang Zhou's lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago focuses on studying the interactions between biomolecules, particularly how certain proteins and DNA interact and behave. This research aims to uncover fundamental principles of molecular recognition, which is crucial in many biological processes, and has potential applications in drug design and therapy development. The lab combines experimental and computational techniques to gain insights into biomolecular properties and behaviors inside cells.