Dr. Jeffrey J. Gray's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on predicting how proteins interact with one another and how their structures can reveal important biological mechanisms. They develop computational tools to model these protein structures, which are crucial for understanding diseases and creating new therapies, particularly in areas like immunology and cancer. Their work also involves designing antibodies to target specific diseases and incorporates modeling carbohydrates that affect protein functions.

Dr. Karen Sandell Sfanos and her lab focus on understanding how gut bacteria produce androgen hormones that can affect cancer treatment effectiveness, particularly in metastatic prostate cancer. They explore the role of the microbiome in shaping how patients respond to immunotherapies and hormone therapies. Their goal is to identify bacterial genes and metabolites that contribute to resistance against cancer treatments, with the hope of finding new therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Timothy D. Harris's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on developing advanced techniques for brain-wide electrophysiology in freely moving rodents. The lab is pioneering robotic-assisted surgeries for implanting multiple probes, improving data acquisition methods, and creating automated data analysis pipelines. This research aims to enhance our understanding of how different brain regions work together during behaviors like navigation.

Dr. Noah John Cowan's lab focuses on understanding how the brain, particularly the hippocampus, processes sensory information to maintain cognitive functions like navigation and memory. By studying the interplay between visual cues and internal mental maps, the research aims to shed light on how the brain updates spatial information dynamically. This work is crucial for understanding neurological diseases that impair memory and cognitive function, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Joseph B. Margolick's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding HIV infection and its long-term effects on health, particularly among men who have sex with men. The lab contributes to a major study that has been ongoing since 1984, examining both the natural and treated histories of HIV. They aim to deepen our knowledge of how HIV affects aging and related health issues through extensive data collection and collaboration with other research sites.

Dr. Honggang Cui's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on developing innovative drug delivery systems, specifically using self-assembling nanofiber hydrogels to treat malignant brain tumors like glioblastoma. The research aims to enhance the local delivery of anticancer drugs while minimizing side effects, ultimately improving patient survival rates. They are particularly interested in how these hydrogels can effectively release drugs over time and diffuse throughout brain tissue after tumor removal.

Dr. Robert Johnston's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding how cells determine their fates in a stochastic (random) manner during eye development, particularly in fruit flies. The research aims to uncover the genetic and signaling mechanisms that lead to proper development of different cell types, which is essential for functions like vision and smell. By using the fly eye as a model, the lab studies how genes turn on and off randomly in some cells, and how this process is influenced by both internal (like transcription factors) and external (like signaling pathways) cues.

Dr. Ana Ponce Kiess leads a research lab that focuses on improving cancer therapies through advanced radiation techniques. The lab aims to develop methods for dosimetry which can more precisely measure radiation doses delivered during alpha-particle emitter radiopharmaceutical therapy. This research is particularly aimed at treating metastatic cancer while minimizing harmful side effects. By enhancing treatment planning, Dr. Kiess's lab seeks to improve survival rates for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.

Dr. Deok-Ho Kim's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on developing innovative in vitro models to study complex diseases such as Parkinson's and cardiac conditions. They utilize advanced microphysiological systems to replicate human tissue environments and investigate how disease mechanisms affect neural and cardiac function. The aim is to improve understanding of disease pathways and evaluate potential therapeutic strategies using patient-specific cells.

Dr. Kishore V Kuchibhotla's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding how our behavior transitions from goal-directed actions to automatic habits. By using innovative behavioral paradigms and advanced neural tools, the lab studies how these transitions occur in real time, particularly in the context of substance use disorders. This research aims to uncover the neural circuits involved in habit formation, which could lead to better treatment options for maladaptive behaviors.

Dr. Heng Zhu's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding how DNA methylation affects brain development and neurological disorders. They are particularly interested in a less-studied type of DNA methylation known as CpH methylation, which occurs in the neurons of the brain. The lab combines innovative techniques to identify proteins that bind to this type of methylation, aiming to elucidate their roles in transcriptional regulation and potentially uncover new therapeutic targets for conditions like fragile X syndrome and ALS.

Dr. Barbara Stauch Slusher's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on innovative ways to combat age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia. The research specifically investigates a targeted delivery system using dendrimers, which are nanoparticles that can deliver drugs effectively to the right cells, such as activated macrophages in aging muscles. By optimizing a potential treatment that inhibits a specific enzyme involved in muscle degradation, the lab aims to improve muscle function and quality of life for older adults.

Tamara O'Connor's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding how bacterial pathogens, specifically Legionella pneumophila, utilize host cell organelles called peroxisomes to thrive and evade the immune system. The research aims to uncover new strategies to develop antibiotics that can target these mechanisms to combat infections effectively. By investigating the role of peroxisomes in bacterial growth and survival within host cells, the lab hopes to identify new therapeutic opportunities for treating infections.

Dr. Cynthia Wolberger's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding how specific chemical modifications to histone proteins, which are crucial for packaging DNA, regulate gene expression and DNA repair. The team employs advanced techniques to investigate the role of ubiquitin attachment to histones in the context of cancer, aiming to develop new therapies targeting these pathways. Their work is not only fundamental to our understanding of gene regulation but also has the potential to lead to innovative treatments for difficult-to-treat cancers.

Dr. Argye E. Hillis's lab focuses on understanding how language deficits caused by stroke can improve over time. They study different recovery mechanisms, including the restoration of blood flow to affected brain areas and the reorganization of brain networks. The lab aims to identify factors that can predict individual recovery patterns, helping to develop personalized treatments for people with aphasia.

Dr. Aaron A. Tobian's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding how HIV-1 persists in the body despite treatment. They study the latent viral reservoir found in certain immune cells and how it is maintained or reactivated, especially in people undergoing kidney transplants. By examining the effects of different treatments on these reservoirs, the lab aims to develop strategies for potentially curing HIV.

Dr. Richard Leigh's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding cognitive decline after strokes. They investigate how damage to the blood-brain barrier may contribute to memory problems and brain changes in stroke survivors. By studying brain imaging and developing new diagnostic methods, the lab aims to identify patients at risk for dementia and improve treatment strategies.

Dr. Chan-Hyun Na's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to cognitive and motor function decline. The lab investigates how different brain regions are affected by LBD and how specific cell types contribute to the disease. By using a mouse model that mimics human disease, the research aims to identify key cellular and molecular pathways involved in the vulnerability to LBD and similar neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Xingde Li's research focuses on developing advanced imaging technologies to study how brain networks operate in real-time within freely-moving rodents. His lab is working on a new type of optical imaging system that allows scientists to visualize brain activity in multiple regions at once without restricting the animal's movements. By using this cutting-edge technology, they aim to gain insights into neural connectivity and behavior, which can help us understand how different parts of the brain communicate during tasks such as social interactions.

Dr. Svetlana Lutsenko's lab focuses on understanding how copper transport in the body relates to nutrient absorption and liver function, particularly in the context of Wilson disease, a serious genetic disorder. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms behind copper's role in fat absorption and how disruptions in copper homeostasis can lead to metabolic disorders. By studying the interactions between different cell types and the effects of copper on nutrient transport, the lab aims to find new therapeutic strategies for managing Wilson disease and improving gastrointestinal health.