Dr. Jessica Robinson-Papp's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how HIV affects the body's autonomic nervous system and its implications for gastrointestinal and immune health. They study how autonomic neuropathy, a nerve dysfunction associated with HIV, can lead to inflammation and serious health issues. By examining both the gastrointestinal tract and immune response, the lab aims to uncover new ways to better assess and manage these complications in people living with HIV.

Dr. Jose Rafael Romero's lab at Boston University focuses on understanding how vascular risk factors influence cognitive decline and dementia after a stroke. The lab analyzes large datasets to create predictive tools that can help assess the risk of post-stroke cognitive impairment, aiming to improve prevention and treatment strategies for stroke survivors. Their work emphasizes the importance of addressing obesity and dyslipidemia as significant factors in post-stroke cognitive health.

Dr. Howard J. Rosen's lab at UCSF focuses on improving the diagnosis of dementia within primary care settings, particularly for underserved communities. His research aims to develop effective tools that allow primary care providers to quickly and accurately identify cognitive impairments related to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. By integrating clinical assessments with blood biomarkers and utilizing pre-visit questionnaires, the lab strives to enhance early diagnosis and support for patients and families.

Dr. Peter Rudebeck's lab focuses on understanding the brain's wiring and communication in relation to mood and learning. They study how deep brain stimulation targeting white matter can help treat psychiatric disorders and investigate the neural circuit mechanisms underlying how we learn from rewards and punishments. By using techniques in primate models, they aim to reveal how brain pathways can be modified to enhance emotional and cognitive functions.

Dr. Gavin R Rumbaugh's lab at the University of Florida focuses on understanding how genetic factors influence brain development and behavior, particularly in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders. The lab investigates how genes associated with disorders like autism and schizophrenia affect the structure and function of circuits in the brain, which are critical for cognitive processing and behavior. Their research uses mouse models to uncover the relationships between gene expression, neural circuit assembly, and behavioral outcomes.

Dr. Scott James Russo's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how the immune system and neural circuits influence behavior, particularly in relation to stress and aggression. His team investigates the interactions between immune-derived factors and the brain, exploring how these interactions can affect behavior and mental health. Their research aims to find new ways to treat stress-related disorders and to identify the different brain mechanisms that control aggressive vs. pro-social behavior, especially with respect to sex differences.

Dr. Bonnie Sachs' lab focuses on developing and validating video-administered cognitive assessments for Alzheimer's Disease research, especially in light of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. By adapting established cognitive batteries to video formats, the lab aims to make assessments more accessible to diverse populations who face barriers to in-person testing, such as transportation issues or financial hardships.

Dr. Seyed Ahmad Sajjadi's lab focuses on improving the diagnosis and understanding of two significant types of dementia that often affect older adults: limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) and hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-A). By studying brain health in participants aged 85 and older, the lab aims to identify biomarkers and develop innovative methods to recruit diverse populations for clinical trials. The ultimate goal is to better understand and address cognitive decline in the aging population, paving the way for new treatments.

Dr. Stephen Salton's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding the connections between Alzheimer's Disease and Major Depressive Disorder, two serious brain conditions that often occur together. They study a protein called VGF and its associated peptides, which may be crucial in regulating both diseases. Their research involves using mouse models to test new ways of delivering VGF-derived peptides to see if they can improve brain health and cognitive function.

Dr. James Salzer's lab at NYU focuses on understanding how Schwann cells, which support and insulate nerve fibers, influence the health and function of axons. By studying genetically modified mice, the lab investigates how defects in Schwann cells lead to neurodegenerative diseases, particularly focusing on the mechanisms behind conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The research has the potential to reveal new treatment approaches for peripheral nerve disorders that result from Schwann cell dysfunction.

Dr. Aravinthan D. Samuel's lab focuses on understanding how the brain adapts behavior based on environmental cues, using the simple model organism C. elegans. The research delves into the neural circuits that drive mating behaviors adapted to different environments, exploring changes at the synaptic and cellular levels. Additionally, the lab is developing innovative imaging techniques for mapping brain connections more rapidly and affordably, making advanced connectomics accessible to a wider range of researchers.

Dr. Melanie Samuel's lab at Baylor College of Medicine focuses on understanding how dopamine affects blood vessel growth in the retina. The research explores the role of retinal ganglion cells as sources of dopamine and how this influences vascular integrity in the eye. The ultimate goal is to uncover mechanisms that may lead to new treatments for eye diseases linked to vascular issues, like diabetic retinopathy.

Dr. Jeffrey Nicholas Savas's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, particularly the role of amyloid beta plaques in brain degeneration. The lab uses innovative imaging techniques to track how amyloid plaques form and evolve over time in mouse models. This research is vital for uncovering how these plaques contribute to cognitive decline and could inform new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Anne Schaefer's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how certain brain cells, called microglia, respond to and protect against diseases like Alzheimer's. By investigating the role of specific genes and proteins in microglial behavior, the team aims to reveal new ways to reduce inflammation and enhance the brain's ability to clear harmful substances. Their research could lead to innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Giovanni Schifitto's lab focuses on understanding how conditions like HIV and SARS-CoV-2 affect the brain, particularly how they influence small blood vessels and cognitive health. The research explores the role of immune cells and specific proteins in causing or exacerbating cognitive decline and vascular diseases. By studying these mechanisms, the lab aims to identify potential interventions to protect brain health in affected populations.

Dr. Bernard G. Schreurs' lab investigates how sex differences influence Alzheimer's disease risk and treatment responses. The team leverages an innovative animal model using rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet to explore the interactions between estrogen levels and cholesterol metabolism in relation to cognitive function. By examining how these factors contribute to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms behind memory impairment and potential protective effects of estrogen.

Dr. Kevin Bender's lab at UCSF focuses on understanding and developing therapies for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by investigating the role of the SCN2A gene. This gene, which affects neuronal sodium channels, is linked to various sensorimotor and behavioral deficits in mice modeled for ASD. The lab employs advanced CRISPR technology to potentially correct these deficiencies and improve cellular and behavioral functions in these models, paving the way for new treatments for severe forms of autism.

Dr. Frances E. Jensen's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how seizures affect brain function and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's. The research explores the relationship between seizure activity in early life and its effects on cognitive abilities and synaptic connections throughout life. By studying animal models and human brain tissue, the lab aims to find new ways to treat or prevent cognitive decline associated with seizures and neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Cristopher Niell's lab at the University of Oregon studies how different parts of the brain work together to process sensory information from our environment. By focusing on how mice capture prey, the lab explores how the brain integrates visual and auditory cues to guide behavior. This research helps us understand the underlying mechanisms of sensory processing and could inform potential treatments for sensory impairments like deafness and blindness.

Dr. George B Richerson's lab at the University of Iowa focuses on understanding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), particularly how seizures can disrupt the body's ability to regulate breathing. By studying the role of serotonin neurons and carbon dioxide (CO2) chemoreception, the lab aims to discover mechanisms that increase the risk of seizure-induced respiratory arrest. The research also explores how dietary supplements like milk whey may lower the chance of SUDEP by enhancing serotonin function.