Northwestern University · NeuroscienceOpal Lab
Puneet Opal · Evanston, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Puneet Opal's lab at Northwestern University focuses on the cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1) and Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN). The lab explores how early developmental changes in the brain lead to movement disorders and neuronal death, aiming to uncover new therapeutic strategies. Through advanced mouse models and molecular techniques, they examine the roles of specific proteins and cellular processes that contribute to these diseases.
neurodegenerationmovement disordersSCA1Giant Axonal Neuropathyprotein aggregation
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the cellular basis of movement disorders associated with SCA1
AIM 02Identify how early developmental changes affect later onset of neurodegeneration
AIM 03Elucidate the role of gigaxonin in intermediate filament regulation in CNS
AIM 04Determine potential therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases
AIM 05Characterize the involvement of neurotransmitter systems in disease progression
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelscell cultureWestern blotneurogenesis assessmentimmunohistochemistry
Output against the department
Publications92bottom 30% of dept.468th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.9kbottom 21% of dept.532nd 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.