Dr. Sunil J Advani's lab focuses on improving treatments for locally advanced cancers through innovative therapies that combine radiotherapy with targeted drug delivery. The lab utilizes antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) to specifically deliver radiosensitizers to cancer cells, enhancing tumor control while minimizing damage to normal tissues. Through examining the immune response in the tumor microenvironment, the lab aims to develop molecularly guided precision therapies that are more effective and less toxic than conventional treatments.

Dr. Jiang Du's research lab focuses on advanced MRI techniques to improve the diagnosis and understanding of Alzheimer's disease and knee osteoarthritis. They are developing novel imaging biomarker technologies that can detect early pathological changes in myelin for Alzheimer's and measure joint tissue changes associated with osteoarthritis. The lab aims to enhance both diagnostic capabilities and treatment monitoring through innovative imaging methodologies.

Eric T. Ahrens' lab at UC San Diego focuses on developing advanced imaging techniques to visualize immune cells in cancer, particularly tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). By creating novel imaging agents, such as fluorine-19 (19F) MRI tracers and PET probes, the lab aims to improve early detection of inflammatory processes in cancers like head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Their research seeks to enhance personalized treatments for patients by providing insights into the tumor microenvironment and its influence on therapy responses.

Dr. Wei Wang’s lab at UC San Diego focuses on cutting-edge research combining artificial intelligence and molecular biology to explore innovative solutions for anti-aging therapies and genetic disease. The first major project aims to develop advanced AI models for designing antibodies that can rejuvenate the immune system, ultimately improving life quality in aging populations. The second project investigates the role of non-coding DNA regions in cellular functions and disease, aiming to uncover how mutations in these regions affect health and could lead to new therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Sarah Banks's lab focuses on understanding how biological and lifestyle factors contribute to the risk and progression of Alzheimer's Disease, particularly in women and underrepresented groups like Black women. The lab investigates how inflammation, insulin resistance, and physical activity influence tau pathology and cognitive decline. By studying these relationships, the lab aims to identify modifiable risk factors and therapeutic targets that can help in preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s disease, especially in populations that have been historically overlooked in research.

Dr. Rommie E Amaro's lab at UC San Diego focuses on studying the HIV-1 virus using advanced computer simulations. Their main goal is to understand the behavior and structure of the HIV envelope protein, which is crucial for both vaccine development and understanding how the virus infects cells. By using sophisticated modeling techniques, the lab aims to uncover new insights that can help design better treatments and prevention strategies for HIV.

Dr. Cory T Miller's lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding how primates, specifically common marmosets, recognize and engage in vocal communication in noisy environments, akin to a 'cocktail party'. The lab employs innovative behavioral paradigms and neurophysiological recordings to investigate the brain mechanisms involved in parsing auditory signals amidst competing sounds. Their research has implications for understanding auditory recognition disorders in humans and the underlying neural circuits involved in complex auditory environments.

Dr. Andrew B. Sharabi's lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding how B-cells can contribute to successful outcomes in immunotherapy for patients with head and neck cancer. They explore the mechanisms that allow certain patients to achieve durable complete responses to cancer treatment, potentially leading to new therapies that enhance the immune system's ability to fight tumors. The lab's research aims to improve our understanding of cancer immunotherapy and how B-cell activity can be harnessed to develop better treatments for patients.

Dr. Matthew R. Banghart's lab focuses on creating innovative tools that allow scientists to control neural activity in specific brain regions. By developing light-activated drugs known as photocaged DREADD agonists, the lab aims to improve methods for silencing brain cell activity with high precision. This research could enhance our understanding of how neural activity relates to behavior and has the potential for broad application in neuroscience studies.

Dr. Eric Bennett's lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding how cells maintain the quality of their proteins, which is critical for health and can impact conditions such as aging and neurodegenerative diseases. They explore the cellular mechanisms that control the production and degradation of proteins, particularly focusing on the role of ubiquitin ligases, which help tag defective proteins for destruction. The goal is to develop strategies that enhance cellular quality control systems to combat diseases linked to protein misfolding and toxicity.

The lab of Dr. Ronald J. Ellis at UC San Diego focuses on the effects of cannabis compounds on the microbiome and neuroinflammation in people living with HIV. They also investigate how physical activity and the enzyme GPLD1 can improve cognitive function in aging individuals with HIV. Through both clinical trials and animal studies, the lab seeks to understand the connections between gut health, inflammation, and brain function in relation to HIV.

The research lab led by Dr. Francisco Contijoch focuses on improving cardiovascular procedures in children by integrating innovative MRI technology. They aim to enhance the quality of real-time MRI images during catheterizations, which are crucial for diagnosing and treating heart conditions. By developing new techniques that utilize multiple heartbeats for better imaging, the lab seeks to provide safer, non-ionizing alternatives to traditional X-ray methods, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Nan Hao's lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding the biological processes of aging at the single-cell level. By integrating computational modeling and synthetic biology, the lab investigates how cellular aging impacts health and disease, with particular attention to diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Through innovative experiments and predictive modeling, they aim to develop strategies for promoting longevity and mitigating age-related diseases.

Dr. Lingyan Shi's lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding how cellular senescence, particularly in immune tissues like the thymus, influences aging and immune function. The lab develops innovative imaging techniques to study senescent cells and their metabolic activity, aiming to uncover how these processes affect overall health and the immune system. By researching the mechanisms behind aging in immune cells, the lab hopes to improve interventions for age-related immune decline and enhance healthspan.

Dr. Melissa Gymrek's lab focuses on enhancing the analysis of genetic variants related to Mendelian diseases, especially those in repetitive regions of the genome. The lab aims to develop new methods for accurate profiling of complex repeat variants to improve clinical variant discovery. By making these repeat analyses a standard part of genetic testing, they hope to provide better diagnostics for various genetic disorders.

Dr. Mitsue Miyazaki's lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding how cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage affects cognitive function, particularly in aging and Alzheimer's disease. The research aims to develop new non-invasive MRI techniques to measure CSF outflow and its connection to cognitive decline and physical activity. By studying these mechanisms, the lab hopes to contribute to early diagnosis and intervention strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Fanny Chapelin's lab focuses on advancing organ transplantation techniques through innovative imaging methods. They aim to improve immune tolerance in transplant patients by tracking regulatory T cells using MRI. The research seeks to develop safer and more effective therapies for minimizing organ rejection and enhancing graft survival, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Chi-Hua Chen's lab at UC San Diego focuses on uncovering how genetic factors influence brain structure and their relation to neuropsychiatric disorders. The research employs advanced brain imaging techniques like MRI and analyzes genetic data to identify links between specific genetic variants and brain morphology. By creating genetic atlases of the human cortex, the lab aims to enhance our understanding of how genetics can shape the brain and contribute to conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Dr. Claude B. Sirlin's lab at UC San Diego focuses on developing better ways to diagnose nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children using quantitative ultrasound. With over 5 million American children affected by NAFLD, this research is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. The lab aims to create more accurate and accessible diagnostic tools that can be widely used to improve pediatric health outcomes.

Dr. Karen L. Christman's lab at UC San Diego focuses on developing innovative biomaterials to treat heart conditions, specifically aiming to improve recovery after heart attacks (myocardial infarctions). The lab creates advanced materials that can be delivered minimally invasively to help heal heart tissue and promote recovery by targeting the underlying damage and improving cardiac function. By engineering solutions that are both effective and safe, this research aims to reduce the incidence of heart failure following myocardial infarctions.