Dr. Eric J. Nestler's lab focuses on understanding the brain mechanisms involved in addiction and stress-related disorders. Researchers in this lab study how specific types of neurons in brain regions, particularly the nucleus accumbens, respond to drugs like cocaine and opioids, as well as how early life stress can lead to long-lasting changes in brain function and behavior. The ultimate goal is to identify new strategies for treating addiction and stress disorders by unraveling the complex interactions between drug exposure, gene expression, and neuronal activity.

Dr. Edward H. Schuchman's lab focuses on understanding and developing treatments for two rare neurological disorders known as Niemann-Pick diseases, Types A/B and C. These conditions involve the accumulation of harmful substances in cells, leading to severe neurological impacts with no current effective treatments. The lab is exploring the use of endocannabinoid-based therapies as a potential solution, aiming to improve patient outcomes and deepen our understanding of related neural diseases.

The research lab led by Dr. Ki Sueng Choi focuses on improving the treatment of severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) through advanced techniques like deep brain stimulation (DBS). By utilizing a detailed mapping of brain pathways, the lab aims to enhance the precision of this treatment, making it more effective for individuals. They are working to develop tools that can help clinicians better target the specific brain areas involved in OCD, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Marta Filizola's research lab focuses on developing safer opioids to combat the opioid crisis by better understanding how different drugs interact with opioid receptors. By combining advanced computational models and experimental imaging techniques, the lab seeks to discover pain-relieving medications that have fewer side effects than traditional opioids. This research is crucial for creating new therapies that can help patients manage pain effectively while minimizing the risks of addiction and overdose.

Dr. Lahouaria Hadri's lab focuses on understanding the genetic and epigenetic factors that contribute to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a serious and often fatal lung disease. Through research on proteins involved in chromatin remodeling, the lab aims to uncover how these factors alter gene regulation in lung cells, leading to vascular dysfunction. The ultimate goal is to identify potential new therapies targeting these mechanisms to help treat PAH.

Dr. Panagiotis Roussos' lab focuses on understanding the role of RNA modifications in the brain, particularly in relation to Alzheimer's Disease (AD). They study how changes in RNA impact the immune cells of the brain, known as microglia, which are critical in neuroinflammation and AD progression. By utilizing advanced genomic techniques, the lab aims to uncover new insights that could lead to potential therapies for AD and related conditions.

Dr. Jessica Robinson-Papp's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how HIV affects the body's autonomic nervous system and its implications for gastrointestinal and immune health. They study how autonomic neuropathy, a nerve dysfunction associated with HIV, can lead to inflammation and serious health issues. By examining both the gastrointestinal tract and immune response, the lab aims to uncover new ways to better assess and manage these complications in people living with HIV.

Dr. Peter Rudebeck's lab focuses on understanding the brain's wiring and communication in relation to mood and learning. They study how deep brain stimulation targeting white matter can help treat psychiatric disorders and investigate the neural circuit mechanisms underlying how we learn from rewards and punishments. By using techniques in primate models, they aim to reveal how brain pathways can be modified to enhance emotional and cognitive functions.

Dr. Scott James Russo's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how the immune system and neural circuits influence behavior, particularly in relation to stress and aggression. His team investigates the interactions between immune-derived factors and the brain, exploring how these interactions can affect behavior and mental health. Their research aims to find new ways to treat stress-related disorders and to identify the different brain mechanisms that control aggressive vs. pro-social behavior, especially with respect to sex differences.

Dr. Stephen Salton's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding the connections between Alzheimer's Disease and Major Depressive Disorder, two serious brain conditions that often occur together. They study a protein called VGF and its associated peptides, which may be crucial in regulating both diseases. Their research involves using mouse models to test new ways of delivering VGF-derived peptides to see if they can improve brain health and cognitive function.

Dr. Anne Schaefer's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how certain brain cells, called microglia, respond to and protect against diseases like Alzheimer's. By investigating the role of specific genes and proteins in microglial behavior, the team aims to reveal new ways to reduce inflammation and enhance the brain's ability to clear harmful substances. Their research could lead to innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Yi Shi's lab focuses on developing innovative therapies to combat COVID-19 using unique nanobody technologies. The lab aims to create ultrapotent drug candidate cocktails that can neutralize various strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. By utilizing advanced proteomics and engineering techniques, the lab is working toward designing cost-effective and effective treatments that can be easily administered, even through inhalation.

Dr. Tristan Shuman's lab focuses on understanding brain activity related to memory and cognitive impairments in disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. By studying how brain regions communicate and synchronize, especially during episodes of abnormal firing, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms driving cognitive deficits. The research combines advanced techniques such as optogenetics and electrophysiology to manipulate and monitor brain activity in mouse models of these neurological conditions.

Dr. Viviana A Simon's research lab focuses on understanding HIV and coronavirus infections, particularly why some people can carry these viruses for long periods without clearing them. The lab employs advanced techniques to investigate how different immune cells interact with viruses like HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, they are working on developing vaccines that can provide broad protection against various coronaviruses. This lab combines clinical studies with cutting-edge molecular biology to uncover key insights that could lead to effective treatments and vaccines.

Dr. Paul Slesinger's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how alcohol affects brain function and identifying new treatments for alcohol use disorders. The lab studies specific potassium channels that are involved in neuronal excitability, particularly in how mutations in these channels can lead to neurological diseases. By exploring the structure and function of these channels, the lab aims to develop new drugs that can effectively target and modulate their activity.

Dr. Xiaoting Wu's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how the brain processes social information and forms memories related to social interactions, especially in relation to neuropsychiatric disorders like autism and schizophrenia. The research uses advanced techniques to explore the neural circuits involved in positive and negative social memories, aiming to uncover potential therapeutic approaches for these conditions.

Dr. Sergei Sokol's lab studies how cells communicate during the early development of vertebrates, specifically using the model organism Xenopus. They explore the processes that help shape an embryo, looking at how proteins influence cell behavior and organization. This research helps us understand normal development and how diseases like congenital defects and cancer can arise when these processes go wrong.

Dr. Won-Min Song's lab focuses on understanding the complex interactions in the tumor microenvironment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) to identify new treatment strategies. They are particularly interested in how certain tumors resist the effects of the existing therapy known as Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). By using advanced sequencing techniques, they will map out the molecular features of these tumors and seek to discover novel therapeutic targets that can improve treatment outcomes for patients.

Dr. Patrick Hof's lab is focused on understanding how cardiovascular health impacts brain health as humans age, particularly in comparison with great apes like chimpanzees and gorillas. The research aims to uncover why humans are more prone to cognitive decline and specific heart diseases than our closest relatives. By studying the differences in brain and heart aging between these species, the lab hopes to provide insights into how we can promote healthier aging in humans.

Dr. Zhenyu Yue's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how autophagy helps protect neurons in the brain. They study how the process of autophagy, which recycles damaged cellular components, can go wrong in diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The lab aims to discover ways to improve neuroprotection through understanding these mechanisms, potentially leading to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.