Dr. William G. Fairbrother's lab focuses on understanding splicing defects in human genes, particularly how specific mutations affect the way RNA is processed. By analyzing large genomic data sets, the lab aims to identify mutations that can lead to various diseases. The team is also exploring ways to correct these mutations using innovative techniques, which could have significant implications for developing targeted therapies.

Robert Stahelin's lab at Purdue University focuses on studying deadly viruses like Ebola, Marburg, and SARS-CoV-2. They investigate how these viruses assemble and spread within human cells, aiming to discover new drug targets for treatment. The lab combines computational methods with experimental techniques to understand the viral proteins and their interactions, which is crucial for combating these significant public health threats.

Dr. Tanya Stoyanova's lab at UCLA focuses on discovering new treatments for advanced prostate cancer, particularly forms that are resistant to current therapies. The research aims to better understand the role of a protein called ATAD2, which is overactive in aggressive prostate cancer types, and to test new drugs that inhibit ATAD2 to see if they can help stop cancer growth. This work is essential because advanced prostate cancer has few effective treatment options and significantly affects men's health.

Dr. John Michael Streicher's lab at the University of Arizona focuses on developing innovative therapies to better manage chronic pain while minimizing the use of opioids. They investigate a protein called Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90), which plays a key role in how opioids work in the brain and spinal cord. By creating selective inhibitors of Hsp90, the lab aims to enhance the effectiveness of opioids for pain relief while reducing unwanted side effects like tolerance and addiction.

Dr. James Solomon Fraser's lab at UCSF focuses on understanding the diverse structural forms that proteins can take, especially how these forms change in response to drugs or mutations. They develop advanced methods to visualize and manipulate these structures, aiming to improve drug design and create new treatments to fight antibiotic resistance. The lab combines experimental techniques in crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy with computational modeling to enhance our understanding of protein dynamics.

Dr. Lishan Su's lab at the University of Maryland Baltimore focuses on understanding how specific immune cells, known as tumor-associated plasmacytoid dendritic cells, interact with liver cancer in patients with HIV. The lab aims to investigate how these cells may affect the growth of liver tumors and the immune response during immunotherapy treatments. The goal is to develop new therapeutic strategies that can be particularly beneficial for HIV-infected individuals suffering from liver cancer.

Dr. Huabo Su's lab at Augusta University focuses on understanding the role of proteins involved in mitochondrial health and vascular smooth muscle function. The research aims to uncover how specific proteins, like Cullin 3, influence heart and blood vessel health, particularly under stress. By using advanced genetic models, the lab explores mechanisms that can help prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Jaichandar Subramanian's research lab focuses on understanding Alzheimer's disease, particularly how changes in neuronal activity and synaptic function relate to mitochondrial health. By studying mouse models of the disease, the lab aims to uncover how these factors interact across different ages and brain regions. Ultimately, the goal is to find ways to improve cognitive function by restoring normal brain activity and synapse structure.

Dr. Brian R. Herb's lab at the University of Maryland Baltimore focuses on understanding the impact of substance use disorders (SUD) and HIV on the brain. By analyzing large sets of biological data, the lab aims to discover genetic and molecular patterns that can inform future treatments. The research emphasizes making complex data accessible and understandable for both biologists and clinicians.

Dr. Peter Gaskill's lab at Drexel University focuses on understanding how substance use disorders, particularly stimulant use like cocaine and methamphetamine, interact with HIV to drive inflammation and neurocognitive impairment. The research involves creating human cell models to investigate how dopamine, released due to stimulant use, affects brain cells affected by HIV. By exploring these interactions, the lab aims to find potential therapeutic targets to improve outcomes for individuals living with both HIV and substance use disorders.

Dr. James A. Wells' lab focuses on understanding the proteins on the surface of cells, known as the surfaceome. These proteins are crucial for how cells communicate and respond to their environment. By developing innovative technologies, his team aims to analyze small populations of cells at high resolution, particularly in the context of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Their goal is to identify new biomarkers and drug targets, as well as to create specific antibodies that can better modulate cell functions.

Dr. Matthew J. Kennedy's lab at the University of Colorado Denver focuses on understanding how the tiny structures within synapses, which are connections between neurons, influence brain function. They are developing innovative tools to manipulate these structures in real time, which will help reveal their role in important cognitive processes, such as learning and memory. This research aims to bridge the gap between the molecular dynamics of synapses and their impact on cognitive functions, potentially shedding light on brain disorders linked to synaptic dysfunction.

Dr. Mark L Dell'Acqua's lab at the University of Colorado Denver focuses on understanding how amyloid beta, a protein involved in Alzheimer's disease, disrupts synaptic function in the brain. The lab investigates the molecular signaling pathways that control synaptic plasticity—the brain's ability to adapt and change. By studying these pathways, the research aims to identify potential therapeutic targets that could help preserve cognitive function in individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Michael Rybak's lab focuses on innovative strategies to combat difficult bacterial infections, particularly those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The research emphasizes the synergy between bacteriophages and antibiotics, aiming to enhance treatment efficacy and prevent resistance. By combining these therapies, the lab seeks to improve patient outcomes and translate findings into clinical applications.

Dr. Wendell Lim's lab at UCSF focuses on engineering immune cells to improve their ability to infiltrate and effectively treat solid tumors that typically repel immune responses. By developing synthetic circuits that enhance T cell trafficking towards these tumors, the team aims to increase the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapies, particularly against immune-excluded tumors like pancreatic cancer. This innovative approach to immunotherapy has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by making even hard-to-treat tumors vulnerable to immune attack.

Dr. Olena Taratula's lab focuses on developing innovative diagnostic and treatment methods for ectopic pregnancies, a critical condition that can threaten maternal health. The lab leverages advanced technologies including nanoparticles to improve imaging of the placenta and magnetic hyperthermia techniques to non-invasively treat ectopic pregnancies. Such research aims to enhance the safety and effectiveness of maternal healthcare by providing better detection methods and therapeutic options.

Dr. Francesca-Fang Liao's lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind tau accumulation and neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. They investigate how tau protein is cleared from cells, especially under conditions of oxidative stress, and aim to identify potential therapeutic strategies to enhance this clearance. The ultimate goal is to develop treatments that could slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and improve cognitive function in patients.

Dr. Patricia L. Opresko's lab at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on understanding how environmental factors, such as oxidative stress, impact telomeres—structures at the ends of chromosomes that are crucial for maintaining genome stability. The lab employs innovative techniques to induce specific DNA damage at telomeres in various models, including cell cultures and transgenic animals, to study the resulting effects on cellular and organismal health. The ultimate goal is to develop strategies that can either protect healthy cells from damage or inhibit tumor growth in cancerous cells.

Dr. Shelley J Russek's lab studies how specific signaling pathways in the brain contribute to epilepsy, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). By examining excitatory neurons in mouse models, they aim to understand how these pathways affect brain inflammation and neuronal function, which could lead to new treatments for TLE. Their research combines various techniques to explore the interactions between genes, brain cells, and potential therapies.

Dr. Peter Tessier's lab focuses on innovative strategies to deliver therapeutic antibodies across the blood-brain barrier for treating Alzheimer's disease. The lab researches the use of bispecific antibodies to improve the delivery of neuroprotective agents and gene silencing methodologies in microglia, the immune cells of the brain, without invasive procedures. By optimizing these antibody-based delivery systems, they aim to enhance treatment efficacy and develop new therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.