Oregon Health & Science University · Microbiology & ImmunologyThe Integrin Insights Lab
Bahareh Ajami · Portland, Oregon
Research Focus
Dr. Bahareh Ajami's lab at Oregon Health & Science University focuses on understanding the role of a specific protein, alpha5 integrin, in the development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a serious neurodegenerative condition. The research investigates how immune cells, particularly myeloid cells, influence the disease and how targeting alpha5 integrin could be a new approach for treatment. By using genetic models and advanced cellular systems, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms that may lead to better therapies for ALS patients.
ALSalpha5 integrinmyeloid cellsmicrogliaimmunomodulationneurodegenerationcellular signalingiPSCgene knockoutdisease pathology
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the specific roles of alpha5 integrin in myeloid cells during ALS progression.
AIM 02Analyze how alpha5 integrin affects microglial function in ALS using cellular models.
AIM 03Explore the relationship between immune cells and motor neurons in ALS context.
AIM 04Develop strategies to modify myeloid cell behavior to slow ALS progression.
Skills the Lab Values
conditional knockout modelshuman induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)CRISPR/Cas technologycell culturemouse modelsphagocytosis assessmentimmunofluorescenceWestern blotRNA sequencingflow cytometry
Output against the department
Publications32bottom 6% of dept.457th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.7ktop 46% of dept.224th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.