Dr. Conor Caffrey's lab at UC San Diego focuses on developing new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, specifically tauopathies like Alzheimer's disease. The lab investigates microtubule-stabilizing compounds to enhance brain health and prevent cognitive decline. Their research includes testing a new compound, CNDR-51997, which has shown promise in improving neuronal function and stability in preclinical models.

Dr. James Roede's lab at the University of Colorado Denver focuses on understanding how environmental chemicals affect neurodevelopment, particularly in individuals with Down syndrome. They study specific cellular mechanisms that may lead to cognitive challenges in this population, exploring the role of toxic compounds and how they interact with genetic factors. The lab employs advanced techniques to investigate changes at the cellular and molecular levels that contribute to cognitive variability in Down syndrome.

Dr. Sodhi's lab at Loyola University Chicago focuses on understanding how prenatal stress affects brain development and leads to differences in cognitive function between males and females. They investigate the role of RNA editing in glutamate receptors, which are crucial for learning and memory, to see how these processes differ between sexes. The ultimate goal is to identify new ways to enhance cognitive function and resilience to stress, potentially leading to improved treatments for disorders like depression and schizophrenia.

Dr. Juan Song's lab at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill focuses on understanding how certain brain regions regulate the creation of new neurons, which is important for memory and emotional processing. By studying cells in the hypothalamus, they aim to enhance the growth of neurons to improve brain function, especially in conditions like Alzheimer's disease. This research has the potential to lead to new therapies for treating cognitive and emotional disorders.

Dr. Shilpa J Buch's lab at the University of Nebraska Medical Center focuses on understanding how HIV and substance abuse like cocaine affect the brain. Their research investigates the role of immune cells in the brain, especially how these cells respond to HIV proteins and drugs, leading to inflammation and cognitive decline. By studying processes like ferritinophagy, they aim to develop new treatments to improve brain health for people living with HIV and addiction.

Dr. Shijun Zhang's lab at Virginia Commonwealth University focuses on understanding and combating Alzheimer's disease, particularly through the lens of neuroinflammation. The lab is exploring innovative PET imaging techniques to identify and measure the inflammatory responses associated with Alzheimer's, using a component of the immune system called the NLRP3 inflammasome. Additionally, they are developing new small molecule inhibitors that target NLRP3 to potentially halt or reverse the cognitive decline associated with this disease.

Dr. Smita Yadav's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding how protein kinases, particularly TAOK1, affect the growth and function of neurons. The research examines how mutations in TAOK1 are linked to autism and related disorders, revealing the complex processes that govern neuronal development and how these processes can go awry. Through innovative techniques in biochemistry and stem cell biology, the lab seeks to uncover new therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Kurt Hauser's research lab focuses on understanding how opioid and non-opioid drugs, particularly fentanyl, interact with the brain to exacerbate conditions like HIV-related neurocognitive disorders. The lab investigates the mechanisms through which these substances affect nerve cells and the supporting cells in the brain, aiming to identify new therapeutic strategies that could mitigate the harmful effects of drug use and improve neurological health in affected individuals.

Dr. Lauren M Slosky's lab focuses on finding new ways to treat opioid use disorder by investigating a brain receptor called neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1). They aim to develop small molecules that can help prevent relapse in individuals recovering from opioid addiction. The research explores how these molecules work in the brain, potentially leading to safer and more effective treatments for opioid dependency.

Dr. Xiaohong Lu's lab investigates how viral infections, specifically COVID-19, contribute to neurological disorders like Lewy body dementia and cognitive deficits. They use advanced animal models to understand the mechanisms behind these connections and look for therapeutic targets to prevent or treat these long-term symptoms. Their research combines genetics and neurobiology to find ways to help those affected by long COVID and related diseases.

Dr. Dianqing Wu's research lab at Yale University focuses on understanding the roles of neutrophils and their interaction with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in inflammation and heart health. The lab investigates novel mechanisms of lipid transport and signaling in immune cells, particularly looking at how these processes contribute to diseases like myocardial infarction and cancer. The insights gained aim to uncover potential therapeutic targets for treating inflammatory diseases and enhancing cancer immunotherapy.

Dr. Yulia Komarova's lab studies how white blood cells, called neutrophils, respond to their environment while migrating to infected tissues. The research focuses on how mechanical forces during this migration can activate neutrophils to effectively kill pathogens, such as bacteria. This work aims to better understand the pathways involved in this process, which could lead to new therapies for bacterial infections.

Dr. Taha Merghoub's lab focuses on understanding the complex role of neutrophils in cancer treatment, particularly how they can both help and harm patients undergoing immunotherapy. The research aims to identify how these immune cells can effectively destroy tumors while also preventing severe side effects associated with treatment. By studying neutrophils in various cancer models and in patient samples, the lab seeks to develop more precise and safer cancer therapies that effectively harness the body's immune response against tumors.

Dr. Alexandra C. Newton's lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding how mutations in a specific enzyme, protein kinase C gamma (PKCg), cause neurodegenerative diseases like Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 14. The research combines various techniques to explore the structural and molecular changes in PKCg that lead to disease. Additionally, her team studies the role of PKC in cancer, aiming to develop therapies that can restore normal signaling in cells when it’s disrupted.

Dr. Alphonsus Ng's lab focuses on understanding Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) by analyzing extracellular vesicles (EVs) released into the bloodstream. Their work involves developing advanced micro-nanotechnologies to identify potential biomarkers for T1D, which could lead to better diagnosis and treatment options. The lab combines expertise in immunology, molecular analysis, and engineering to study the unique molecular signatures from pancreatic islet cells and T cell activity in diabetes.

The Nguyen lab at the University of Minnesota focuses on understanding myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), which are disorders that affect blood cell production and lead to serious health issues. Their research explores how specific mutations related to RNA splicing can lead to genomic instability in these conditions, and they are investigating the role of PARP1—a protein involved in DNA repair—through the lens of R-loops, a type of genetic material interplay. The ultimate goal is to develop targeted therapies using existing FDA-approved PARP inhibitors for patients with specific genetic mutations related to MDS.

Dr. Juliane Nguyen's research lab focuses on developing innovative therapies using engineered probiotics and extracellular vesicles to improve treatments for chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and ischemic heart disease. The lab aims to create safer, more effective medicine that targets the root causes of these conditions, potentially enhancing patient recovery and quality of life. By integrating advanced technologies in pharmacology and biomedical engineering, Dr. Nguyen's team seeks to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical application.

Dr. Christopher Mark Norris' lab at the University of Kentucky focuses on understanding the role of reactive astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. By utilizing advanced mouse models and innovative cell-specific targeting techniques, they investigate how different aspects of astrocyte function contribute to brain pathology in dementia. The lab aims to bridge preclinical findings with human data to improve therapeutic strategies for these diseases.

Dr. Laura Solt's lab at the University of Florida focuses on understanding how certain proteins, known as nuclear receptors, influence the development and behavior of immune cells called TH17 cells, which are important in chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. By studying the role of these receptors and their interaction with small molecules, the lab aims to uncover new therapeutic strategies for treating conditions like colitis and Crohn's disease.

Dr. Erin Calipari's research lab at Vanderbilt University investigates the brain mechanisms involved in addiction, particularly how drugs like cocaine and alcohol affect neural circuits and behavior. The lab studies the role of specific neurons in the nucleus accumbens and how molecular changes in these cells contribute to addiction-related behaviors. By exploring these mechanisms, they aim to identify new treatment strategies for addiction that could help minimize relapse and improve outcomes for those struggling with substance use disorders.