Dr. Ralf Langen's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the misfolding of the huntingtin protein. The lab studies how these misfolded proteins form aggregates and explores potential therapies to inhibit their formation and reduce toxicity in cells. A key part of their research involves using advanced imaging techniques to identify the structure of early misfolded protein species and developing peptides that could serve as both biomarkers and therapeutic agents.

Dr. Ali Khoshnan's lab focuses on understanding Huntington's disease by studying a specific protein called mutant huntingtin. The lab investigates how this protein misfolds and forms toxic aggregates in the brain, leading to neurodegeneration. They use advanced techniques to analyze these protein structures, develop antibodies to target them, and explore potential therapies to prevent or treat Huntington's disease.

Professor Peter Kuhn's lab focuses on developing advanced liquid biopsy technologies to improve early cancer detection. The research aims to refine and validate tests that can detect cancers like breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma through blood samples rather than invasive procedures. By analyzing markers in the bloodstream, the lab seeks to create more effective screening tools that integrate various molecular techniques and collaborations with clinical partners.

Dr. Hussein N. Yassine's lab focuses on understanding the links between type II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive decline, particularly within Latino communities at higher risk for these conditions. The lab works on both understanding brain health through imaging and developing new drugs aimed at reducing neuroinflammation associated with Alzheimer's. By studying brain mechanics and pharmaceutical interventions, the team aims to identify effective strategies to mitigate cognitive decline in vulnerable populations.

Dr. Richard Leahy's lab focuses on developing advanced software tools for analyzing brain imaging data, particularly from electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). Their primary project, Brainstorm, provides a user-friendly platform that researchers can use to visualize and analyze complex brain activity data. This lab is at the forefront of making neuroscience research more accessible and reproducible through open-source software innovation.

Dr. Jinkook Lee's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding cognitive aging and dementia, especially within the context of India. The lab conducts large-scale studies to collect data on older adults, exploring how factors like bilingualism can impact resilience against Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. By analyzing cognitive performance alongside various biological and environmental factors, they aim to provide crucial insights into the risk and protective factors associated with cognitive decline in aging populations.

Dr. Sheng Li's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on exploring how changes in the epigenome influence cell behavior, differentiation, and disease. By using advanced computational tools and next-generation sequencing data, the lab aims to uncover how epigenetic modifications regulate gene expression across the entire mouse genome. The research combines biochemistry and computational biology to enhance our understanding of cellular plasticity and heterogeneity, with the goal of creating valuable resources for the scientific community.

Dr. Emily R. Liman's research lab focuses on understanding how taste receptors in mammals detect different tastes, particularly sour and salty flavors. The lab studies a specific channel called OTOP1, which plays a crucial role in sensing acids and high concentrations of salts. By exploring how OTOP1 functions, the research aims to develop new tools to enhance our understanding of taste and potentially improve dietary choices to help combat health issues like obesity and hypertension.

Italo Lopez Garcia's lab focuses on improving early childhood development (ECD) programs in low- and middle-income countries, particularly using mobile health (mHealth) innovations. Their research is aimed at finding cost-effective solutions to enhance children's cognitive, language, and emotional development while providing necessary support to parents. By exploring different intervention delivery models, including in-person and remote approaches, the lab aims to establish scalable methods that effectively sustain benefits for children over time.

Dr. Zhipeng Lu's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding how alternative splicing works and its implications for health and disease. They develop innovative methods to analyze RNA structures and their interactions with proteins, aiming to decode how these processes contribute to diseases like cancer and neurological disorders. The lab's work is particularly relevant for advancing precision medicine by targeting splicing mechanisms for therapeutic purposes.

Dr. Zhaoxia Qu's lab focuses on understanding how alveolar macrophages, the immune cells in the lungs, interact with pathogens and maintain lung health. They explore the role of a protein called PDLIM2 in regulating these immune responses, especially in diseases like lung cancer and pneumonia. The lab's research aims to uncover new ways to target lung diseases and improve treatment strategies.

Dr. Janos Peti-Peterdi's research lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding the roles of specific kidney cells known as macula densa cells. These cells contribute to kidney health and disease, particularly in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The lab employs advanced imaging techniques and experimental models to investigate how these cells communicate with glomerular endothelial cells and regulate kidney functions, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases.

Dr. Alicia A. Mcdonough's lab focuses on the differences in kidney functioning between males and females throughout their lives. By studying how hormones and other factors affect kidney and muscle responses, the lab aims to understand issues like high blood pressure and heart disease. Essentially, they're trying to learn how gender and life stages like pregnancy and menopause influence kidney health and salt management in the body.

Dr. Soeren Mattke's research focuses on improving access to memory care for elderly individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. His work investigates the barriers these individuals face, such as socioeconomic factors, geographic location, and administrative challenges in navigating healthcare systems. By understanding these disparities, the lab aims to provide evidence-based insights that can drive policy changes to enhance healthcare accessibility for disadvantaged populations managing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Dr. Assal Habibi's research lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding how music training can influence brain development in children. They conduct rigorous studies to determine the specific brain circuitry that may be enhanced through systematic music training. Their work aims to show the long-term benefits of music on cognitive functions, particularly in areas like inhibitory control, which is important for overall health and success in life.

Dr. Maryam Shanechi's lab at USC focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying emotional states to improve mental health treatments. By combining neuroscience with engineering, the lab develops innovative technologies for real-time monitoring of brain activity and mood, as well as personalized brain stimulation therapies for conditions like depression. Our work incorporates multiple sensory data streams and machine learning to pave the way for scalable, effective solutions in mental health management.

Ellis Meng's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on the development and optimization of flexible neural probe arrays for research in neuroscience. The lab aims to create advanced polymer-based interfaces that can reliably record neural activity across different brain regions in various animal models, including rodents and nonhuman primates. By refining these technologies, the lab seeks to improve the understanding of how neural activity relates to behavior and to promote the widespread use of these innovative tools in neuroscience research.

Dr. Jeiran Choupan's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding the brain's perivascular spaces (PVS) and their role in aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This research aims to map the structure and diffusion properties of PVS in the brain, helping to uncover how they change with age and in conditions like AD. By using advanced imaging techniques, the lab hopes to develop resources that other researchers can use to study neurological disorders related to PVS dysfunction.

Dr. Jeannie Chen's lab at the University of Southern California studies how phototransduction works in healthy and diseased states, particularly focusing on the balance of calcium and cyclic GMP within photoreceptor cells in the retina. By using advanced imaging techniques and mouse models, the lab investigates how disruptions in calcium homeostasis can lead to cell death and retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa. This research is important for developing treatments for various forms of blindness associated with phototransduction failures.

The lab led by Paul Matthew Seidler at USC focuses on understanding how proteins aggregate and how certain molecules, known as disaggregases, can control this process. By studying how proteins can be both catalyzed to aggregate and disaggregated back to their functional forms, the lab aims to uncover new ways to address diseases related to protein misfolding. Their research could lead to better diagnostics and therapies for these serious conditions.