Research Laboratories

The Ackerman lab uses both zebrafish and fruit fly model systems to determine how distinct glial cell populations (individually and collectively) instruct nervous system development, from synapses to circuits.

PI: Sarah Ackerman, PhD

Oxysterols are hydroxylated cholesterols, which influence a wide variety of cellular pathways including endolysosomal trafficking, cholesterol biosynthesis and cell surface and nuclear receptor signaling among others. These intracellular effects manifest as major regulatory steps in lipid homeostasis, inflammatory signaling, neuromodulation and cell migration. We are interested in understanding how oxysterols influence neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

PI: Anil Cashikar, PhD

Research in Cavalli laboratory focuses on elucidating the neuronal, glial and immune mechanisms that dictate the regenerative response of peripheral sensory neurons and to relate this information to the lack of regenerative capacity in the central nervous system.

PI: Valeria Cavalli, PhD

The laboratory is broadly interested in innate immunity, focused on three main areas:
1) Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in mucosal immunity 
2) Innate immune mechanisms in Alzheimer`s disease and neurodegeneration
3) Plasmacytoid dendritic cells and IFNα/β in host defense and autoimmunity

PI: Marco Colonna, MD

We are investigating the disease mechanisms that underlie lysosomal storage disorders, and use this information to devise new experimental therapies. This work focusses upon the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCLs, or Batten disease). These are profoundly neurodegenerative disorders that kill children, and most attention has so far focused upon neuron loss. However, we have discovered that both astrocytes and microglia are functionally compromised in these disorders and may play an active role in promoting neurodegeneration. We are now looking at the roles of glia, especially early in disease and how this differs between forms of NCL.

PI: Jonathan Cooper, PhD

The goal of our research is to understand the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis of inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Our research is primarily focused on the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS), which is very common (1/1000 in the US population). We study human tissues (blood, DNA, RNA, spinal fluid) and perform cutting-edge imaging of the human nervous system. We sometimes employ an animal model for MS known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We are currently performing longitudinal imaging studies to help devise methods to differentiate the various types of pathologies in the human disease, such as demyelination, inflammation with cells and or edema due to blood-brain barrier breakdown, and axon damage and loss. We are funded to devise better methods to measure progression of MS over time, which might be used in clinical trials. We also study the effects of diet and calorie restriction upon neuro-inflammation, having shown previously that calorie restriction ameliorates EAE, the prime animal model for MS, at least partly through the upregulation of adiponectin and downregulation of leptin.

PI: Anne Cross, MD

My research interests are focused on leveraging multi-omic data (genetic, genomics, proteomics, epigenomics, lipidomis and others) and deep clinical phenotypes from large and well characterized neurodegenerative diseases (i.e: Alzheimer, Parkinson, Frontotemporal dementia) cohorts in order to identify novel genes, pathways, molecular biomarkers and drug targets for these diseases.

PI: Carlos Cruchaga, PhD

Dr. Davis’ laboratory research is aimed at understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of protein aggregation and neurodegeneration in Parkinson Disease, with a special interest in factors that contribute to dementia in Parkinson Disease and related disorders including Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

PI: Albert (Gus) Davis, MD, PhD

The Dougherty lab develops novel neurotechnology to better understand transcriptional and translational regulation in health and disease, with a focus on astroglia.

PI: Joseph Dougherty, PhD

Our lab is interested in studying astrocytes as they are beginning to emerge as a critical component of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our goal is to understand the mechanisms that regulate reactive astrocytes by utilizing a combination of biochemistry, molecular biology, cellular models of inflammation, and mouse models of AD.

PI: Gilbert Gallardo, PhD

The Hershey lab works in the fields of cognitive and clinical neuroscience, using a range of neuroimaging, pharmacological and cognitive techniques to understand the impact of metabolic (e.g. obesity and diabetes) and neurodegenerative conditions on the brain, particularly during development. We draw from numerous disciplines (neuroscience, radiology, endocrinology, neurology, psychiatry, psychology) to enhance the quality and clinical relevance of our research.

PI: Tamara Hershey, PhD

Astrocyte regulation of daily behaviors.

PI: Erik Herzog, PhD

The lab aims to better understand mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, particularly as they are relevant to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The lab has also been studying tau metabolism and how anti-tau antibodies may affect its potential role in spreading in its pathophysiology as well as how apoE influences tau-mediated neurodegeneration. The lab has also been studying how microglia and specific microglial genes such as TREM2 influence neurodegeneration in the setting of Aβ and tau pathology.

PI: David Holtzman, MD

Our lab research is centered on the development of cutting-edge optical and photoacoustic technologies for high-resolution structural, functional, metabolic, and molecular imaging in vivo and their applications in both basic and translational brain research.

PI: Song Hu, PhD

We study complex interactions between the immune and nervous systems. Simply put, we investigate how the nervous and immune systems talk to each other in health and disease. We have discovered lymphatic vessels in the tissues surrounding the brain, a finding that has challenged some of the previous dogmas in the field of neuroimmunology and increased our knowledge and understanding of how the immune system impacts neurological diseases.

PI: Jonathan Kipnis, PhD

Research in the Kummer lab is focused on the mechanisms of cellular damage in traumatic brain injury and in Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular focus on synaptic and other forms of gray matter injury.

PI: Terrance Kummer, MD, PhD

We are engaged in translational research to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in acute and chronic brain injury, with a focus on Ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

PI: Jin-Moo Lee, MD, PhD

Microglia and other related immune cells are increasingly recognized to be essential players in central nervous system function and almost all neurological diseases. As we gain more knowledge about microglial biology—one of the fastest growing fields at the nexus of neuroscience, immunology and hematopoiesis, numerous fundamental questions remain to be answered, such as: How is microglia fate specified? How do microglia develop? How heterogeneous are microglia? How do microglia age? How do microglia contribute to brain development, aging and neurodegenerative disease? My lab is broadly interested in neuroimmunology with a focus on microglial biology. We combine cutting-edge single-cell genomic technologies with in vitro and in vivo genetic, molecular and cellular tools to address these fundamental questions, which also have tremendous translational potential. The overarching goal is to gain a better understanding of microglial functions in the establishment of the nervous system, as well as how changes in these functions contribute to neurological diseases.

PI: Tristan Qingyun Li, PhD

Our laboratory focuses on cerebrospinal fluid physiology, both under normal conditions and in pathological states such as hydrocephalus and syringomyelia. We are particularly interested in the biology of the ventricular zone—the wall of the ventricle—and the subjacent subventricular zone, and the effect of injury to these areas on brain development.

PI: David Limbrick, MD, PhD

The Mokalled lab aims to elucidate evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of spinal cord regeneration, and to develop zebrafish-inspired interventions to promote spinal cord repair in mammals. Our goal is to leverage the strengths of the zebrafish model system to uncover the molecular identities of pro-regenerative cells in zebrafish, and to reconstruct analogous identities in humans.

PI: Mayssa Mokalled, PhD

We study the organization, development, degeneration, and regeneration of the synaptic circuitry of the visual system.

PI: Josh Morgan, PhD

The Musiek lab examines how the circadian clock influences neuroinflammation, glial activation and function, protein aggregation, and neurodegeneration in mouse models of Alzheimer’s Disease and other degenerative conditions.

PI: Erik Musiek, MD, PhD

The Papouin lab’s research program is centered on astrocyte biology: Specifically, research currently carried out in our lab aims at understanding the interplay between astrocytes and neuromodulation, its molecular underpinnings, and the roles it plays in cognition and cognitive deficits associated with neurological disorders such as Schizophrenia.

PI: Thomas Papouin, PhD

Dr. Perrin directs the Translational Human Neurodegenerative Disease Research (THuNDR) Laboratory, which serves as the Neuropathology Core of the Charles F. and Joann Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network, the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network – Trials Unit, the Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, and the Washington University Movement Disorders Center. In this role, he also supports many collaborative translational research projects with investigators at Washington University and elsewhere, with a focus on understanding and developing biomarkers and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

PI: Richard Perrin, MD, PhD

Our laboratory investigates astroglia differentiation in the developing and adult brain and their involvement in cortical development and function.

PI: Linda Richards, AO, FAA, FAHMS, PhD

Research in our laboratory is focused on determining the phenotype, function, and specificity of T cells in neurological disorders. Our overarching goal is to gain novel scientific knowledge in regard to human adaptive immune responses in neurological diseases that will help guide clinical practice.

PI: Naresha Saligrama, PhD

Our lab studies CSF disorders and how they impact neurodevelopment.

PI: Jennifer Strahle, MD

Our laboratory has been exploring mechanisms of preventing obesity and have discovered that genetic modulation of myeloid lineage cells to a novel hypoinflammatory phenotype completely prevents high fat diet induced weight gain (J Clin Invest. 2020;130(5):2644-2656 Because obesity is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease we are determining if its prevention by this strategy will reduce dementia development in mice. We are particularly focused on microglia, which are myeloid lineage cells and assume an activated state in response to high fat diet.

PI: Steven Teitelbaum, MD

Role of macrophages in development, pathology and regeneration of sensory receptors in the mammalian inner ear and zebrafish lateral line.

PI: Mark Warchol, PhD

The mission of the Wu lab is to determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating adaptive immune responses within the central nervous system.

PI: Gregory Wu, MD, PhD

The Zhao lab is interested in dissecting the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration through multiple integrated approaches including single nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq), network analysis, genomics, epigenomics and machine learning.

PI: Guoyan Zhao, PhD