University of Colorado Boulder · PhysiologyNeuroinflammation and RNA Research Lab
Christopher D. Link · Boulder, Colorado
Research Focus
Dr. Christopher D. Link's lab at the University of Colorado focuses on understanding the role of double-stranded RNA in the cell death associated with Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia. The lab investigates how this RNA accumulates in neurons and glial cells, leading to neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunction. The goal is to uncover new therapeutic targets to combat these currently untreatable diseases.
double-stranded RNAAlzheimer's diseaseneurodegenerationneuroinflammationTDP-43cell deathALSfrontotemporal dementiainnate immune response
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the accumulation of double-stranded RNA in neurodegenerative diseases.
AIM 02Characterize the molecular mechanisms leading to dsRNA-related neuronal dysfunction.
AIM 03Explore the role of TDP-43 in modulating dsRNA levels in cells.
AIM 04Test the hypothesis that dsRNA accumulation triggers inappropriate immune responses.
AIM 05Identify potential therapeutic targets derived from dsRNA-related pathways.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA sequencingcell culturemouse modelsimmunoprecipitationimmunofluorescenceviral infection techniquesgenetic engineeringdata analysismodel organism experimentation
Output against the department
Publications116bottom 34% of dept.188th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.7ktop 34% of dept.96th of 286
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.