University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · BiologyCognitive Health and Microglia Unit
Carla Rothlin · Minneapolis, Minnesota
Research Focus
Dr. Carla Rothlin's lab at the University of Minnesota focuses on understanding how to combat cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). By studying specific molecules in immune cells of the brain called microglia, the lab aims to develop new therapeutic strategies that can enhance microglial function and potentially preserve cognitive health in mice models of AD. The research includes detailed examinations of genetic factors and molecular pathways that influence memory and learning in the context of the disease, with the hope of translating these findings into meaningful treatments for human patients.
Alzheimer's DiseasemicrogliaAXLMERTKTREM2cognitive declineneuroinflammationbehavioral neurosciencetranscriptomics
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of TREM2 in microglia and its relationship with AXL and MERTK.
AIM 02Evaluate the effects of AXL augmentation on cognitive decline in mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease.
AIM 03Assess the transcriptional changes in microglia associated with memory and learning performance.
AIM 04Explore the morphological changes in neurons and microglia during cognitive decline.
AIM 05Develop potential therapeutic strategies targeting the TREM2-AXL-MERTK triad for Alzheimer's Disease.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelsgenetic manipulationbehavioral testingelectrophysiologysingle nucleus RNA sequencingimmunofluorescencemicroscopydata analysis in Rexperimental designmolecular biology techniques
Output against the department
Publications176top 38% of dept.387th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations12ktop 30% of dept.308th of 1,033
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.