Dr. Seth D. Pollak's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on how childhood adversity impacts emotional and behavioral development in children. Through combining neuroimaging and behavioral studies, the lab investigates the neural mechanisms that underlie emotional processing and decision-making in at-risk youth. Their work aims to identify ways to intervene and improve mental health outcomes for children exposed to early life stress.

Dr. Guanhua Chen's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on studying childhood asthma by analyzing the complex relationship between the microbiome and host genetics. They work with large datasets from infants to understand how these factors contribute to asthma risk and severity. The lab develops innovative statistical methods to improve our understanding of these interactions and hopes to inform new treatment strategies for asthma.

Dr. Ricki J. Colman's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding how specific dietary changes can promote healthy aging and combat age-related diseases, particularly obesity and diabetes. Through research involving dietary amino acids, the lab aims to discover new nutritional interventions that can help restore metabolic health in older populations. Their work has important implications for improving the healthspan of aging individuals.

Dr. Christina M Hull's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding the biology of Cryptococcus, a fungus that causes serious diseases, especially in people with weakened immune systems. The lab studies how Cryptococcus spores germinate and grow, aiming to uncover new ways to develop antifungal treatments. By exploring the interactions between these fungal spores and the human immune system, the research seeks to identify potential therapeutic targets that could help prevent or treat lethal fungal infections.

Dr. Michael M. Cox's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding how the DNA replication process works, especially when it gets interrupted by damages. They study the gaps that are left behind when DNA is copied incorrectly and how these gaps can lead to problems like cancer and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The lab combines techniques from biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology to explore these important issues and aim to find new ways to mitigate genomic instability and antibiotic resistance.

Dr. Daniela Drummond-Barbosa's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studies how nutrients and obesity affect stem cell behavior and lineage development. Using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the lab explores metabolic shifts as stem cells differentiate and how these processes are influenced by diet and metabolism. Ultimately, the research aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms that link metabolism with stem cell function, potentially leading to insights into diseases like obesity and cancer.

Dr. Marina Emborg's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studies neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on how specific genetic mutations in primates lead to conditions like frontotemporal dementia and anxiety-related disorders. Using rhesus macaques that carry genetic mutations similar to those found in humans, the lab aims to identify early biomarkers of disease and understand the neural mechanisms behind anxiety and depression. This research could help in developing preventive treatments for these devastating conditions.

David T Evans' lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding how natural killer (NK) cells recognize and respond to viral infections, particularly simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a model for HIV. The research explores the interactions between NK cell receptors and their ligands, aiming to uncover the mechanisms that enable NK cells to distinguish between infected and healthy cells. The findings may contribute significantly to the development of NK cell-based therapies for viral infections.

Thomas C. Friedrich's research focuses on understanding how previous exposure to mosquito-borne flaviviruses, like dengue and Zika, influences the immune response and disease outcomes when encountering other flaviviruses. By studying both human populations and nonhuman primate models, the lab explores the complex interactions of immunity, aiming to improve vaccination strategies and pandemic preparedness. Their work sheds light on how specific sequences of viral exposure impact health risks and immune protection against emerging viruses.

Dr. Xinyu Zhao's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding the role of a specific protein, FMRP, in brain development, particularly in primates and humans. This research is crucial for uncovering the mechanisms behind Fragile X Syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. By examining how FMRP influences neuronal maturation and energy metabolism, the lab aims to contribute to the development of better therapies for these conditions.

Dr. Mark W. Craven's lab focuses on harnessing advanced computational methods, particularly deep learning, to predict how genetic variations influence biological traits (phenotypes) across different scales. The research aims to enhance our understanding of human health and disease by improving genomic analyses, especially in the context of diseases resulting from rare genetic mutations. The lab collaborates with other research centers to build a comprehensive dataset that maps genetic variants to their phenotypic impacts.

Dr. Pallavi Tiwari's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on advancing non-invasive imaging techniques to better understand glioblastoma, a challenging brain cancer. The lab is developing innovative radiomic spatial maps to accurately identify the extent of viable tumors in MRI scans, helping clinicians differentiate between tumor infiltration and normal brain edema. This research aims to improve treatment planning and outcomes for patients with glioblastoma by reducing the need for invasive biopsies.

Dr. Christopher S Green's research lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding how cognitive training might produce benefits through placebo effects. This work involves conducting large-scale studies to investigate whether people's expectations can influence their performance on cognitive tasks. By exploring how different age groups and individual traits affect placebo responsiveness, the lab aims to develop more effective cognitive training methods that could improve mental health outcomes, particularly for older adults at risk for dementia.

Dr. Vanessa Sperandio's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studies how gut bacteria and host signals regulate disease-causing bacteria, specifically enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). The lab focuses on understanding how neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and endocannabinoids affect the virulence of these pathogens and their interactions with the gut microbiota. This research is important for understanding microbial infections and developing better treatments against enteric diseases.

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hardin's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding how cells shape and move during the early stages of embryonic development, particularly in the model organism, C. elegans. The lab investigates the interaction of various proteins that support cell adhesion and movement, which can shed light on issues like birth defects and cancer mechanistically. By studying how cells rearrange themselves and maintain their structural integrity, this research aims to uncover important biological processes relevant to human health.

Dr. Deric Wheeler's lab focuses on improving treatments for head and neck cancer (HNC) by exploring how certain proteins contribute to resistance against targeted therapies, specifically the drug cetuximab. By studying both human tumor samples and patient-derived models, the lab aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of resistance and to identify ways to overcome it using combinations of therapies. Their ultimate goal is to enhance treatment outcomes and refine existing therapeutic approaches for HNC patients.

Dr. Anna Huttenlocher's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studies how cells move and communicate during the healing of wounds. They primarily use zebrafish as a model organism because of their clear bodies, which allow researchers to observe cellular interactions easily. The lab aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell migration, which is crucial for repairing tissues and can provide insights into conditions like diabetes and autoimmune diseases.

Robert Fettiplace's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studies the molecular mechanisms that control hearing, particularly focusing on the hair cells in the inner ear. They investigate how specific proteins affect hearing functions and how mutations can lead to hearing loss. The research combines advanced techniques in genetics and electrophysiology to better understand both healthy and damaged hair cells, potentially leading to new insights into hearing impairment treatments.

Barak Blum's research lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding the islets of Langerhans, which play a critical role in insulin regulation and diabetes. The lab explores how changes in cell communication and tissue architecture during islet expansion impact their ability to function properly, especially in the context of type 2 and gestational diabetes. By investigating the Slit-Robo signaling pathway, the lab aims to uncover new ways to promote healthy islet function and improve glucose regulation in people at risk of diabetes.

Dr. Margarita Kaushanskaya's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding how bilingualism affects language development in young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The research aims to find ways to support bilingual children with ASD, especially those from Hispanic and Latine backgrounds, by studying their language skills and how these are influenced by their unique bilingual environments. By integrating experimental tasks with real-life observations, the lab aims to provide valuable insights into effective language support for dual-language development.