Dr. Kathleen Lombard Poston's lab at Stanford University focuses on understanding the role of gut health in neurological disorders, particularly Lewy Body Diseases like Parkinson's Disease. The research aims to explore how changes in gut immune responses and microbiota may contribute to the progression of these diseases. By studying the gut-brain interaction through innovative techniques, the lab hopes to identify potential new strategies for prevention and treatment.

Dr. Zhao-Wen Wang's lab at the University of Connecticut focuses on understanding how certain proteins interact with potassium channels to affect sleep and neurotransmitter release. Their research utilizes a model organism, C. elegans, to uncover how a specific type of potassium channel, called the BK channel, works in the nervous system. They explore the role of melatonin in this process, aiming to reveal important cellular pathways that could impact our understanding of sleep regulation and related disorders.

Dr. Ping Wu's lab focuses on understanding how prenatal exposures, specifically to opioids and Zika virus, affect brain development and behavior in offspring. They employ animal models to study cellular mechanisms that lead to developmental defects, aiming to find new strategies to prevent these effects. The research blends genetic, biochemical, and behavioral analyses to explore how maternal health impacts fetal brain health and function.

Dr. Benjamin Segal's lab focuses on understanding and treating progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (PMS) and promoting nerve regeneration in the optic nerve. His research investigates the role of specific immune cells in driving neuroinflammation and potential therapies to enhance recovery from nerve injuries. This work aims to reduce disability in older adults suffering from PMS and to develop new treatments for individuals facing vision loss due to optic nerve damage.

Dr. Joriene De Nooij's lab at Columbia University is focused on understanding the development and function of proprioceptors, which are specialized sensory neurons that help our body sense position and movement. They study how these neurons develop different identities based on the types of sensory information they receive. By exploring the genetic and molecular dynamics involved in this process, their research aims to improve treatment strategies for spinal cord injuries and enhance our understanding of movement control in the nervous system.

Dr. Yong Chen's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding and alleviating the pain associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a painful joint condition that affects many individuals. They are developing improved animal models to explore the mechanisms of psoriatic arthritis pain, particularly examining the role of certain lipids in inflammation and pain pathways. The aim is to identify new therapeutic targets that could lead to better pain management for PsA patients.

Dr. Louis J. Ptacek's lab focuses on understanding the genetics and biology behind sleep regulation, particularly for individuals with 'Familial Natural Short Sleep' (FNSS), a condition where affected people need significantly less sleep than average yet feel rested. The lab studies various genes involved in sleep homeostasis using human samples and mouse models, aiming to discover new genetic factors that play a role in sleep patterns. Ultimately, this research could lead to better treatments for sleep disorders.

Dr. Keith P. Purpura's lab focuses on understanding how eye movements affect our ability to perceive and process visual information. By studying the roles of fixational eye movements and saccades in primate brains, the lab seeks to uncover the neural mechanisms that underpin how we interpret shapes and textures in our visual environment. This research could provide insights into cognitive disorders related to eye movement disruptions.

Dr. Sathya Puthanveettil's lab at the University of Florida focuses on understanding the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Alzheimer's disease. The lab aims to uncover how these molecules contribute to the disease's progression, particularly through their effects on synaptic function and memory. By investigating specific lncRNAs like SLAMR, the research could lead to innovative therapeutic strategies for combating Alzheimer's.

Dr. Priya Rajasethupathy's lab at Rockefeller University focuses on understanding how the thalamus contributes to working memory, particularly in the context of deficits seen in disorders like ADHD and schizophrenia. The lab's research incorporates both chronic and acute molecular studies to explore the role of a newly identified receptor, Gpr12, in maintaining thalamo-cortical activity that underlies memory function. Ultimately, their work aims to uncover therapeutic targets to improve short-term memory capabilities in affected individuals.

The lab led by Pasko Rakic at Yale University focuses on understanding how the primate cerebral cortex develops, especially the prefrontal cortex associated with cognitive disorders and addiction. By studying non-human primate models, the research aims to uncover key genetic and molecular mechanisms that drive cortical expansion and differentiation, which could inform treatments for cognitive impairments in humans. This work is notable for its implications in both theoretical neuroscience and clinical settings.

Dr. Srikant Rangaraju's lab at Yale University focuses on understanding the role of microglia, the brain's immune cells, in Alzheimer's disease (AD). By studying the proteins produced by these cells, the lab aims to uncover how neuroinflammation contributes to AD pathology and develop new biomarkers that can aid in diagnosis and treatment. They utilize innovative techniques like ciBONCAT to analyze protein changes in living models, providing fresh perspectives on this complex disease.

Dr. Jacob Reimer's lab at Baylor College of Medicine investigates how the brain's neuromodulators, specifically acetylcholine and norepinephrine, influence sensory processing and attention. By experimenting with mice, the lab explores how these chemicals affect brain activity over space and time, which could enhance our understanding of cognitive functions and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and ADHD. The research seeks to clarify how neuromodulators contribute to the variability in responses to stimuli, potentially revealing new insights into attention mechanisms and treatment strategies.

Dr. Christiane Reitz's lab focuses on understanding the genetic factors contributing to neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease, particularly in diverse populations such as Hispanic and African-American individuals. They aim to create a large, harmonized dataset that includes genetic, neuroanatomical, and clinical data to better understand how ancestry influences these symptoms and to ultimately inform better treatment options. This research is crucial as it endeavors to address historical gaps in Alzheimer's research and improve outcomes for affected populations.

Dr. Jessica E Rexach's lab focuses on understanding the role of interneurons in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias using innovative stem cell models. The lab creates assembloids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to mimic the complex interactions between different types of brain cells, particularly how mutations in the tau protein affect cognitive decline. By studying how these cells work together, the lab aims to uncover potential pathways for developing new treatments and improving clinical trials.

Dr. Giulietta Maria Riboldi's lab at NYU is focused on understanding Early Onset Parkinson's Disease (EOPD), which occurs before the age of 50. The lab studies how genetic factors, inflammatory responses, and alpha-synuclein protein accumulation contribute to different subtypes of EOPD. By analyzing patient data and biological samples, the lab works to identify distinct disease mechanisms that could lead to better-tailored treatments and improved patient care.

Dario L Ringach's lab at UCLA focuses on understanding how neurons in the cortex become specialized for processing visual information and how they are organized into functional maps. They investigate how thalamic inputs influence cortical structure and function, specifically exploring the role of ON/OFF pathways from the retina in shaping our ability to perceive and respond to visual stimuli. This research is significant for understanding developmental brain disorders and enhancing our knowledge of cognitive processes.

Dr. Maribel Rios' lab studies how specific brain signals affect our body's energy and glucose management. Particularly, they focus on the relationship between two proteins, thrombospondin and a2d-1, in the brain regions that control eating and metabolism. By understanding how these proteins work, the lab hopes to find new ways to treat obesity and related metabolic diseases.

Dr. Nichole L Link's lab focuses on understanding how certain RNA-binding proteins influence brain development and are connected to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. They investigate the role of these proteins in stabilizing important mRNA molecules in neurons, which is crucial for proper brain formation. The lab uses advanced genetic models, including fruit flies and mouse cultures, to study these mechanisms and their implications for human diseases.

Guo-Li Ming's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how RNA modifications affect the brain's development and function. This research looks into the roles of various RNA modifications, particularly in relation to neurological disorders. By employing advanced techniques such as stem cell models, the lab aims to uncover the impact of these modifications on brain physiology and diseases like obesity and microcephaly.