Mohamed E. Abazeed · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Abazeed's lab focuses on understanding the complexities of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), a challenging type of cancer that is often resistant to treatment. The lab explores how cancer cells can change their behavior and characteristics in response to therapies, which helps uncover new strategies for overcoming these resistances. By studying the different states of SCLC cells, the team aims to develop innovative therapeutic approaches that can improve treatment outcomes for patients.
Karla J F Satchell · Microbiology & Immunology
Dr. Karla J. F. Satchell's lab at Northwestern University studies how certain bacterial toxins influence the infection process. Specifically, they focus on MARTX toxins from Vibrio bacteria, which deliver several effector proteins at once to manipulate host cell signaling and enhance bacterial virulence. By understanding the interactions between these effector proteins, the lab aims to uncover new strategies that might help combat infections caused by these harmful bacteria.
Paul W. Burridge · Pharmacology
Dr. Paul W. Burridge's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding and preventing heart and vascular problems in children and adults receiving cancer treatments. They use advanced techniques like human stem cells to study genetic factors that contribute to heart issues caused by chemotherapy and newer cancer therapies. Their goal is to create tools that help predict and prevent these adverse effects, particularly in underserved populations, like African American survivors of childhood cancers.
Michael Markl · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Michael Markl's lab at Northwestern University focuses on advancing cardiac imaging techniques to improve patient outcomes in heart diseases. They are developing state-of-the-art MRI technology, particularly four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI and cardiac MRI, to assess blood flow and tissue health in individuals with congenital heart defects and heart transplant patients. The lab uses artificial intelligence to streamline imaging processes and enhance analysis accuracy, ultimately aiming to establish non-invasive methods for better predicting and managing heart complications.
Edward Benjamin Thorp · Biology
Dr. Edward Thorp's lab focuses on understanding how inflammation affects heart health, particularly in conditions like heart failure and ischemic injury. The lab investigates how different immune cells, specifically macrophages, interact with other heart cells to either worsen or alleviate inflammation. By exploring the underlying mechanisms and finding new pathways for intervention, the research aims to uncover potential treatments for heart diseases related to chronic inflammation.
Richard W. Carthew · Biochemistry
Richard W. Carthew's lab at Northwestern University studies gene regulation in developmental biology, primarily using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model organism. The research focuses on understanding the roles of non-coding RNAs, particularly long non-coding RNAs, in gene regulation and cell fate during development. Additionally, the lab investigates how external signals and tissue morphology influence cellular processes and development, utilizing advanced mathematical models and experimental techniques.
Eyal Yaacov Kimchi · Neuroscience
Dr. Eyal Yaacov Kimchi's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding delirium in older adults, particularly its causes and effects. They are researching how disturbances in sleep patterns and circadian rhythms contribute to episodes of delirium, which can lead to long-term cognitive decline. By using innovative monitoring technologies and artificial intelligence, the lab aims to identify specific factors that can improve treatment and intervention strategies for delirium in hospitalized patients, ultimately enhancing the health outcomes of older adults.
Indira M Raman · Biology
Dr. Indira M Raman's research lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding how the cerebellum helps us coordinate movements and learn new motor skills. The lab investigates how synaptic input impacts the firing patterns of neurons that play a crucial role in movement control. Using both mice and zebrafish, the team studies how these neurons respond to expected and unexpected sensory inputs during different behaviors, such as learning new tasks or adapting to changes. Insights from this research may help unravel the mechanisms behind movement disorders like ataxia and autism spectrum disorders.
Marco Martina · Physiology
Dr. Marco Martina's lab focuses on understanding how imbalances in brain signaling might contribute to cognitive impairments and social interaction challenges in psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia. They investigate neuronal mechanisms using different rodent models to explore how shifts in chloride transport can affect cognition. Through this research, they aim to find ways to restore cognitive function using existing medications, thus paving the way for potential new treatments for psychiatric conditions.
Anis Contractor · Physiology
Dr. Anis Contractor's lab at Northwestern University studies the mechanisms that allow brain cells to adapt and change to support memory formation and retrieval. By focusing on a specific type of synapse in the hippocampus, the lab seeks to understand the roles of certain proteins in enhancing communication between neurons, particularly in relation to memory. This research not only helps in understanding normal brain function but also addresses how these processes may go awry in conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Daniel A Dombeck · Biology
Daniel A Dombeck's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding how neurons adapt and change in response to various stimuli, which is crucial for learning and memory. They use advanced imaging techniques to observe how changes in brain signals occur in real-time, helping to clarify how our brains function during behaviors like spatial navigation. Their work has important implications for treating conditions related to brain plasticity, such as addiction and chronic pain.
Jones G Parker · Physiology
Dr. Jones G Parker's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding how dopamine affects cognition and perception, especially in relation to mental health disorders like schizophrenia. The research investigates the roles of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in these processes and aims to explore new therapeutic strategies using cholinergic antipsychotics, which may offer benefits over traditional treatments. The lab employs advanced imaging techniques to study neural circuits and the effects of different drugs on brain activity.
Talia Newcombe Lerner · Physiology
Dr. Talia Newcombe Lerner's lab at Northwestern University investigates how dopamine circuits in the brain contribute to habit formation and motor skill acquisition. The lab aims to understand the neural mechanisms behind the transition from deliberate actions to automated habits, especially in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders like OCD and addiction. By studying the impact of early life stress on dopamine circuit development, the research seeks to uncover lasting effects on behavior and potential interventions for psychiatric disorders.
Loukia Parisiadou · Pharmacology
Dr. Loukia Parisiadou's lab focuses on understanding the early mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease, specifically how genetic mutations affect the health of dopamine neurons. By using advanced genetic models, the lab investigates disruptions caused by the LRRK2 gene, which has been linked to this disorder. The ultimate goal is to develop early therapeutic interventions that can slow disease progression and improve outcomes for patients.
Farrah Jasmine Mateen · Neuroscience
Dr. Farrah Jasmine Mateen's lab focuses on improving access to epilepsy diagnosis in underserved populations. The team works on developing artificial intelligence tools that can help non-specialists accurately interpret EEG results, a crucial part of diagnosing epilepsy. By training AI algorithms and creating risk assessment tools, the lab aims to provide reliable diagnostic services in locations where expert care is limited, improving outcomes for many individuals affected by epilepsy.
Peng Ji · Biology
Dr. Peng Ji's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding the development of red blood cells and the impact of inflammation on blood disorders. They compare the unique environments that support red blood cell development in mice and humans, aiming to uncover critical differences that could lead to new treatments for diseases like myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The research uses advanced techniques to study how immune responses affect blood cell production and maturation, which is vital for addressing health issues associated with aging and chronic inflammation.
Deyu Fang · Biology
Deyu Fang's research lab focuses on developing innovative treatments for triple negative breast cancer by combining immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The lab's goal is to create therapies that not only target cancer cells but also enhance the immune system's ability to fight tumors, particularly those that are resistant to existing treatments. They explore the role of specific proteins, like USP22, in cancer cell growth and immune response to devise effective therapeutic strategies.
Priyanka Gopal · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Priyanka Gopal's research lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding how genetic features influence the effectiveness of radiotherapy in lung cancer treatment. The lab works on characterizing treatment resistance and aims to develop personalized therapies based on genetic markers. They conduct extensive genomic studies and utilize preclinical models to improve patient outcomes in cancer care, especially for those undergoing radiotherapy.
Hao F Zhang · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Hao F Zhang's lab focuses on advancing glaucoma diagnosis and treatment through innovative imaging techniques. Their main project involves developing a novel visible-light optical coherence tomography (vis-OCT) system that can visualize retinal structures and measure oxygen levels in the eye more accurately than existing technologies. This work aims to detect early signs of glaucoma and monitor its progression, ultimately improving patient care.
Laleh Golestani Rad · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Laleh Golestani Rad's lab focuses on improving the safety of patients with implantable medical devices who require MRI scans. They research how radiofrequency heating can affect these devices, particularly in low-field MRI systems. Their goal is to create safe imaging practices that will allow more patients to benefit from necessary MRI diagnostics without risking injury.