Dr. Rodney J. Rothstein's lab focuses on understanding how cells repair DNA damage, specifically double-strand breaks that can occur during DNA replication or due to external factors. Using yeast as a model organism, the lab investigates the complex processes involved in genetic recombination and how these mechanisms can lead to genome stability, which is crucial for preventing diseases like cancer. Through innovative experimental designs, the lab aims to shed light on the timing and roles of various proteins in the DNA repair process.

Dr. Elisa E. Konofagou's lab at Columbia University focuses on improving the diagnosis and treatment of heart arrhythmias using a novel imaging technique called Electromechanical Wave Imaging (EWI). This innovative approach aims to better identify the causes of irregular heart rhythms, helping to inform more effective treatment strategies. The goal is to enhance patient outcomes by making arrhythmia treatments quicker and more reliable.

Dr. Tristan T. Sands' lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding and treating complex neurological disorders in children, specifically Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEE). The lab studies the genetic aspects of these disorders and utilizes genetically engineered mice to explore new gene therapy techniques. By investigating when and how gene changes affect neuron development, the lab aims to create effective therapies that can help manage DEE symptoms for affected families.

Dr. Sheng-Han Kuo's lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding and developing therapies for cerebellar disorders such as ataxia and essential tremor. The lab investigates how specific changes in brain cell function and structure contribute to these disorders, aiming to restore normal brain circuit activity. By utilizing mouse models and human brain samples, the research seeks to uncover new treatment options for patients who currently have limited therapies available.

Dr. Nathaniel Sawtell's lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding brain circuits, particularly the cerebellum's role in feeding behaviors and internal modeling for sensory predictions. The research aims to identify how these circuits regulate body weight and manage sensory-motor functions, providing insights that could inform treatments for obesity and neurological disorders. Through innovative experimental techniques, the lab investigates the cerebellum's involvement in cognition and motivative behaviors.

Dr. Randolph S. Marshall's lab focuses on understanding how blood flow issues in the brain can affect cognitive function in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. They're investigating whether interventions like carotid revascularization could help prevent cognitive decline in these patients. Their work combines advanced imaging techniques with clinical trials to explore treatment options that could improve brain health and potentially establish new guidelines for managing cognitive impairment related to vascular conditions.

Dr. Hyunmi Choi's lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding how certain health risk factors relate to dementia and stroke in older adults with late-onset epilepsy. They investigate how vascular conditions, which affect blood vessels in the brain, may contribute to cognitive decline and increased stroke risk in these individuals. The lab aims to develop better strategies for assessing and reducing these risks to improve brain health in older adults.

Dr. Hachung Chung's research lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding how specific RNA structures contribute to immune responses and inflammation, particularly in neurons. They investigate the role of long 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) in generating immunostimulatory double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which can trigger autoinflammatory diseases when dysregulated. The lab's work aims to uncover the mechanisms behind RNA lengthening and dsRNA production, with the potential for developing new therapies for neuroinflammatory conditions.

Dr. Mark M. Churchland's lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding how the motor cortex in the brain contributes to voluntary movement. They study the complexity of neural activity in this region, which can vary significantly from one neuron to another, making it challenging to decipher how motor commands are generated. By utilizing advanced techniques like large-scale neural recordings and innovative experimental designs, the lab aims to develop insights that can help design interventions for movement disorders caused by brain damage.

Dr. Yifei Sun's lab focuses on developing advanced statistical methods to enhance the analysis of diverse longitudinal cohort studies, particularly in understanding COVID-19 risk factors. By addressing challenges like systematically missing data and study heterogeneity, the lab creates improved tools for clinical and epidemiological research. Their innovative approaches aim to provide reliable resources for researchers integrating data from multiple studies.

Dr. Henry M. Colecraft's lab focuses on understanding the role of a specific calcium channel gene (CACNA1A) in various neurological disorders. The research aims to develop innovative therapies by examining how different mutations in this gene lead to conditions like migraines, epilepsy, and ataxia. The lab combines molecular biology, biophysics, and advanced neuroscience techniques to create potential treatments tailored to these mutations.

Dr. Carla P. Concepcion's lab focuses on developing innovative therapies for a specific type of lung cancer that lacks effective treatments. Her research targets the SMARCA2 gene, which plays a critical role in the growth of tumors that have lost another important gene called SMARCA4. By studying genetically engineered mice, her team is investigating how to effectively degrade SMARCA2 to inhibit cancer development and exploring how the immune system can help in these treatments. This work aims to provide new hope for patients with this aggressive form of lung cancer.

Dr. Riccardo Dalla-Favera's lab focuses on understanding diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a common and challenging type of blood cancer. The research team is uncovering genetic mutations within the non-coding regions of DNA that play a critical role in DLBCL. By analyzing super-enhancers—regulatory regions of the genome—they aim to identify new therapeutic targets and improve treatment options for patients who currently have limited options.

Professor Philip L De Jager's lab focuses on understanding Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its complexities as people age. They use advanced technologies to create detailed maps of the brain's molecular changes and how these changes affect cognition. By studying both genetic factors and brain pathology, the lab aims to uncover new insights into AD, potentially paving the way for improved treatments.

Dr. Sabrina Diano's lab studies how certain neurons in the brain control metabolism and eating behavior, focusing on lipid signaling and energy balance. The research looks specifically at how different neuronal populations affect hunger and how their activity changes based on metabolic conditions like fasting or diet-induced obesity. By understanding these mechanisms, the lab aims to uncover new strategies for addressing metabolic disorders.

Lars Dietrich's lab at Columbia University studies the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, known for causing serious infections, particularly in vulnerable populations. They focus on understanding how these bacteria survive and thrive in challenging environments, such as during infections, by examining unique structures like R-bodies that help protect the bacteria and contribute to their virulence. The research aims to uncover the mechanisms behind these survival tactics to identify new treatment strategies against bacterial infections.

Professor Alberto Ciccia's lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding how certain DNA repair mechanisms can influence cancer immunotherapy. By studying the role of the DNA translocase SMARCAL1, the lab aims to uncover how tumors evade the immune system and improve the effectiveness of treatments that rely on anti-tumor immune responses. Their research combines genetics, biochemistry, and animal models to explore the intricate relationships between DNA damage response and immune signaling.

Dr. Lorraine S. Symington's lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding how cells repair DNA damage, specifically double-strand breaks (DSBs). These breaks can lead to serious genetic issues if not properly repaired, contributing to diseases like cancer. Using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism, the lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of DSB repair and the factors that influence these processes, including the role of various proteins and chromatin structures. This research could have important implications for developing new cancer treatments and understanding genomic stability.

Dr. Wassim Elyaman's research focuses on understanding how the immune system interacts with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a serious neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. His lab investigates specific proteins and antigens that might be involved in the immune response in ALS patients. By characterizing these immune responses, the lab aims to develop more precise immunotherapies that could help slow down disease progression for ALS patients.

Dr. Donna L. Farber's lab focuses on understanding how regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to immune memory and protection against viral infections in human tissues. They explore the unique roles of Tregs in maintaining tissue homeostasis and tolerance, investigating how these cells interact with other immune and structural cells. This research is crucial for developing therapies for autoimmune diseases and improving tissue repair and transplantation outcomes.