Dr. Ayokunle Olanrewaju's lab at the University of Washington focuses on improving HIV prevention and treatment for adolescent girls and young women. They are developing a fast and inexpensive test that can be used in local clinics and pharmacies to measure HIV drug levels in patients. This technology aims to provide real-time feedback to patients and healthcare providers, helping to ensure that individuals adhere to their HIV medication regimens more effectively.

Dr. Mary E. Larimer's lab focuses on reducing alcohol use and its consequences among college students through research on personalized feedback interventions (PFIs). The lab investigates the best ways to deliver these interventions, either all at once or one by one, to improve their effectiveness and how long they last. By using text message boosters to address specific high-risk drinking events, the lab aims to make a positive impact on student health and inform campus policies on alcohol use.

Dr. Nancy L. Allbritton's lab focuses on cutting-edge research in bioengineering to understand and combat cancer. They develop innovative microdevices and biomaterials to explore cellular behaviors in leukemia and colorectal cancer. By studying how lipid signaling and the tumor microenvironment affect cancer progression, the lab aims to improve treatment precision and patient outcomes.

Dr. Stephen J. Polyak's lab at the University of Washington focuses on developing new antiviral treatments specifically for coronaviruses. The research aims to create a combination of oral medications that can effectively treat patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and other related viruses. By utilizing advanced mathematical models, the lab seeks to optimize drug combinations and dosing strategies, improving global preparedness for future outbreaks.

Dr. Scott O. Murray's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by studying how attention affects sensory processing. The lab explores how individuals with ASD experience altered perceptions due to differences in their attention allocation, using various brain imaging and computational modeling techniques. This research aims to uncover the neural mechanisms behind sensory and perceptual changes in people with ASD, potentially improving quality of life for those affected.

Dr. Michalakis Averkiou's lab at the University of Washington focuses on improving treatments for liver cancer by using an innovative combination of ultrasound techniques and mechanotherapeutic drugs. Their goal is to enhance the delivery of chemotherapy to tumors, helping to overcome challenges posed by the tumor microenvironment. This research aims to make cancer treatments more effective and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Mary Hebert's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding how medications taken by breastfeeding mothers can affect drug levels in breast milk. They employ advanced modeling techniques to predict how drugs may be transferred into breast milk based on various biological parameters. This research is crucial for assessing the safety of drug exposure for infants during breastfeeding and aims to fill significant gaps in current pharmacological knowledge.

Dr. Bonita J. Brewer's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding how cells replicate their DNA accurately. By studying simple organisms like baker's yeast, the lab investigates the coordination between DNA replication and different cell cycle events, which is crucial for maintaining genome stability. Their work is particularly relevant to understanding human diseases, including cancer, that can arise from errors during DNA replication.

Dr. Robijanto Soetedjo's lab at the University of Washington studies how the cerebellum processes signals that control eye movements known as saccades. By examining the neural circuits involved in these movements, particularly how specific cells contribute to their timing and direction, the lab aims to uncover fundamental insights into motor control. This research could lead to improved rehabilitation strategies for people with movement disorders.

Dr. Ning Zheng's lab focuses on understanding how heart rhythms are regulated at the molecular level. The team uses advanced imaging techniques to study proteins called sodium and calcium channels, which are crucial for heart cell function. By investigating their structure and function, especially in the context of mutations that cause arrhythmias, they aim to improve antiarrhythmic drug design for safer and more effective treatments.

Dr. John D. Scott's lab at the University of Washington studies how specific proteins can control the release of cortisol, the stress hormone, from our adrenal glands. They focus on a condition called Cushing's syndrome, which causes the body to produce too much cortisol, leading to serious health issues. The lab's goal is to understand the mutations in a protein called PKA that contribute to this syndrome and to develop more effective treatments using precision medicine.

Dr. Hannele Ruohola-Baker's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding the genetic factors involved in craniofacial disorders, such as cleft lip and palate, to develop targeted therapies. They use advanced techniques like spatial transcriptomics to study human tissues and induced pluripotent stem cells to model these disorders. This research aims to reveal the complex networks that control the development of the face and improve treatment options for common birth defects.

Dr. Andrew N. Hoofnagle's lab at the University of Washington focuses on improving blood tests for patients with type 1 diabetes. Their research aims to make these tests more reliable and easier to reproduce in different labs, which is crucial for personalized medicine. By using advanced technologies like mass spectrometry, the lab seeks to better understand diabetes and improve the management of the disease through more accurate biomarkers.

Dr. Sam Golden's lab at the University of Washington studies the effects of fentanyl on the brain and explores why some people are more vulnerable to opioid abuse than others. By using advanced techniques to analyze brain function and gene expression in mice, the lab aims to create detailed maps of brain circuitry involved in fentanyl seeking behavior. This research is important for understanding addiction and developing new strategies to combat opioid abuse.

Dr. Kristina M. Adams Waldorf's lab focuses on understanding how maternal viral infections, such as Zika virus, impact the developing fetal immune system and brain health. The lab uses advanced models to analyze how infections can influence immune programming and cellular responses in the fetus, with the aim of developing new therapeutic strategies for fetal protection against infection-induced damage.

Dr. Joshua Woodward's research lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding how the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes causes infections, particularly by colonizing the gallbladder. This lab investigates the unique environment of the gallbladder, which can harbor various pathogens, to identify which genes and biological pathways enable Listeria to thrive there. The findings could lead to new strategies for preventing the spread of this and other foodborne infections.

Dr. Michael H Gelb's lab at the University of Washington focuses on improving newborn screening for genetic diseases using advanced biochemical and molecular techniques. Their research aims to develop innovative methods to analyze DNA variants and protein mutations that could influence disease outcomes. This work could significantly enhance how newborns are screened for treatable conditions, leading to better health strategies and reduced anxiety for families.

Dr. Christine Queitsch's lab focuses on understanding how genetic variations interact with one another to influence complex traits and diseases. Using model organisms such as yeast and the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, her research aims to unravel the mechanisms behind these genetic interactions, particularly those involving repetitive DNA elements. By employing advanced genetic techniques and robotics, the lab investigates the impact of these interactions on phenotypes such as lifespan and fitness, contributing to our knowledge of human genetics and potential medical advancements.

Dr. Kenneth M. Rice's lab at the University of Washington focuses on improving genetic risk prediction for diseases such as Alzheimer's through advanced statistical methodologies. By developing Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) and collaborating with diverse research groups, the lab aims to create more accurate tools for personalized medicine that benefit a wider range of populations. The lab also emphasizes training and collaboration to enhance scientific understanding and application of genetic research in clinical contexts.

Dr. Sara Mostafavi's lab at the University of Washington focuses on using advanced computational models to understand how genetic variations influence gene expression and contribute to complex diseases like autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. By integrating diverse genomic data, the lab works to develop tools that can predict functional outcomes from personal genomes, helping to uncover the biological processes behind these conditions and potentially leading to personalized therapeutic strategies.