University of Virginia-Main Campus · NeuroscienceThe Microglial Insight Lab
John R Lukens · Charlottesville, Virginia
Research Focus
Dr. John R Lukens leads research focused on understanding the role of microglia, a type of immune cell in the brain, in Alzheimer's disease. His lab investigates how proteins like CLEC7A and CASS4 influence microglial behavior and their impact on brain health as we age. By using advanced mouse models and genetic tools, the team aims to uncover new therapeutic targets to improve outcomes for individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's diseasemicrogliaC-type lectin receptorsCASS4neuroinflammationamyloid betasignaling pathwaysfocal adhesionimmunitydementia
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how CLEC7A deletion affects microglial function and Alzheimer's disease progression in mouse models.
AIM 02Study the role of CASS4 in amyloid beta pathology and microglial behavior.
AIM 03Examine signaling pathways downstream of innate immune receptors in Alzheimer's disease-related models.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelsgenetic knockout techniquesimmunofluorescencecell cultureWestern blotRNA sequencingflow cytometryneurobehavioral assessmentsconfocal microscopybioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications160top 46% of dept.307th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.1ktop 43% of dept.291st of 671
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.