David Badre's lab at Brown University studies how our brains manage cognitive control to help us make flexible decisions based on our goals. They focus on the prefrontal cortex, the brain area responsible for maintaining information needed to choose appropriate actions in different contexts. By exploring how information is organized and represented in the brain, the lab aims to address fundamental questions about behavior and might help develop better treatments for conditions that affect cognitive control.

Dr. Alexander Fleischmann's lab at Brown University focuses on understanding the identities and functions of different neural cell types in the olfactory cortex, which is important for odor perception and memory. His research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms and gene regulatory networks responsible for cell type specification during development. This work will enhance our knowledge of how the brain processes sensory information and contributes to memory.

Dr. Sean Edward Lawler's lab at Brown University focuses on understanding how cytomegalovirus (CMV) influences glioblastoma, a type of aggressive brain cancer. By using a special mouse model where the virus is present, the lab aims to uncover the interactions between CMV and tumor growth, which could lead to new treatments for patients. The research highlights the potential of CMV as a therapeutic target and seeks to improve therapy effectiveness in glioblastoma patients.

Dr. Shipra Vaishnava's lab at Brown University studies how vitamin A interacts with gut bacteria to influence immune health and gut barrier function. They explore the role of retinoic acid, a vitamin A metabolite, in regulating immune responses and epithelial regeneration, aiming to reveal new insights that could lead to dietary or microbial therapies for diseases involving gut barrier dysfunction.

Gary Wessel's lab at Brown University focuses on understanding how primordial germ cells are formed and regenerated during early development in animals like sea urchins and sea stars. Unlike mammals, these unique organisms allow the lab to study germline biology with advanced techniques that reveal insights into sexual reproduction and regeneration. The research aims to decode the mechanisms behind germ cell formation and explore ways these processes can be innovatively manipulated in the lab.