Name

Research Interest

Albright, Thomas

The Albright lab is interested in the neuronal bases of visual perception and visually-guided behavior: neural structures and events underlying perception of motion, form and color.

Berg, Darwin

The Berg lab is working on the mechanisms and consequences of nicotinic cholinergic signaling in vertebrate nervous systems. 

Brewer, James

The Brewer lab uses functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study memory processes in volunteers with healthy memory and in patients with memory difficulties, such as in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Calcutt, Nigel

The Calcutt lab is interested is the mechanism of peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain.  They use these mechanisms to develop new therapeutic approaches to treating these conditions in humans. 

Callaway, Edward

The Callaway lab is interested in how cortical circuits mediate perception and behavior.  To address these questions they: 1) investigate the detailed organization of circuits in visual cortex; 2) they correlate the connectivity of specific cell types with their function in vivo; and 3) they develop novel genetic methods to probe connectivity and manipulate activity of specific cell types.

Chichilnisky, EJ

The Chichilnisky lab is focused on understanding how spatiotemporal patterns of electrical activity in the primate retina convey visual information to the brain.  To examine this problem, they focus on the encoding of behaviorally significant stimuli, such as moving objects, and use a unique combination of techniques to examine retinal activity. 

Choe, Senyon

The long-term goal of the Choe lab is to gain a structural understanding of biological molecules involved in signal transduction, ion channel, insertion and protein translocation across the membrane, and the protein-protein interaction. 

Cleveland, Donald

The Cleveland lab focuses on the molecular genetics of axonal growth and motor neuron disease using molecular and genetic approaches.

Courchesne, Eric

The Courchesne lab is currently employing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to confirm a role for the normal human cerebellum in attention operations, and to test new concepts of cerebellar function that go beyond a traditional motor view. The other major area of research in this lab is the neurodevelopmental disorder of autism.

Dobkins, Karen

The goal of the Dobkins lab is to understand visual perception in terms of underlying neural mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on development and plasticity of visual perception. 

du Lac, Sascha

The du Lac lab research concerns the mechanisms of motor learning and memory storage in the oculomotor system.  They use a combination of mouse molecular genetics, video oculograpy, anatomical identification of specific cell types, and electrophysiology and pharmacology in vitro to dissect how cellular mechanisms of plasticity operate in the context of a defined neural circuit to mediate adaptive changes in oculomotor performance. 

Ellisman, Mark

Biological research activities in the Ellisman lab include projects aimed at obtaining new insight into how the nervous system functions at the cellular level.  Investigations are conducted on the cellular interactions occurring during nervous system regeneration, especially those occurring between axons and myelinating glia.

Elman, Jeff

The Elman lab focuses on language processing, using both empirical experimental methodology and also connectionist models. A second focus is on development, with emphasis on the brain bases of early language learning.

Gage, Fredrick

The Gage lab concentrates on the adult central nervous system and the unexpected plasticity and adaptability that remain throughout the life of all mammals. Their work may lead to methods of replacing brain tissue lost to stroke or Alzheimer’s disease and repairing spinal cords damaged by trauma.

Gentner, Tim

The Gentner lab takes an integrative, systems-level approach to study the neural mechanisms that govern the sensory, perceptual, and cognitive processing of real-world acoustic signals. The primary focus is on the elaborate vocal communication system in songbirds.

Geyer, Mark

The Geyer lab uses behavioral measures and psychopharmacological manipulations in rats, mice and humans to address basic issues relevant to the functional roles of monoamine neurotransmitters in behavior, to develop animal models of the effects of drugs in humans, and to explore information processing deficits in schizophrenic patients and parallel animal models.

Ghosh, Anirvan

The Ghosh lab is interested in understanding the mechanisms that regulate connectivity in the developing brain. The lab uses molecular, genetic, and electrophysiological approaches to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of axonal and dendritic development, and synapse formation. The lab is also investigating the ability of stem cell-derived neurons to integrate into neural circuits.

Gleeson, Joseph

Research in the Gleeson lab is focused on understanding how the mammalian brain is assembled.  They study fundamental mechanisms of brain development including neurogenesis, neuronal migration, and neuronal connectivity. 

Goldstein, Lawrence

The Goldstein lab is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of intracellular movement and the role of transport dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.  Their focus is on the attachment, function, and regulation of kinesin and dynein microtubule motor proteins. 

Hamilton, Bruce

The Hamilton lab studies development of the cerebellum and susceptibility to neurodegenerative disease using human and mouse genetics.  They are particularly interested in transcriptional regulatory networks in the differentiation and maintenance of cerebellar Purkinje neurons. 

Heinemann, Steve

The Heinemann lab studies the molecular details of communication among brain cells. The work in the laboratory is focused on the molecular biology and physiology of the glutamate and nicotinic receptors expressed in the brain.

Hook, Vivian

The focus of research in the Hook Lab is to understand how proteases and protease inhibitors are responsible for (1) the multi-step proteolytic pathways required for converting precursor proteins into active neuropeptides that function as neurotransmitters, and (2) the mechanisms responsible for neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, and (3) proteomic approaches for elucidation of protease components as potential drug targets and therapeutics. 

Insel, Paul

Work in the Insel lab focuses on signaling by catecholamines and extracellular nucleotides, in particular on G-protein-coupled receptors for those neurotransmitters/neuromodulators. The laboratory emphasizes the use of cellular and molecular biologic approaches to explore receptor regulation, signal transduction and "downstream" receptor-regulated events.

Isaacson, Jeffry

The Isaacson lab studies synaptic transmission and neural circuits in the mammalian brain. Most recently, they have focused on the pathways underlying the coding of olfactory information by studying the rodent olfactory bulb and olfactory cortex. They use electrophysiological and optical imaging techniques to probe neural function in rat brain slices and in vivo.

Kleinfeld, David

The Kleinfeld lab studies the nature of sensory processing for the determination of absolute position in space and the nature of closed loop sensorimotor feedback. They use the rat vibrissa system as a model.

Koo, Edward

The Koo lab is interested in the cell and molecular biological aspects of neurodegeneration, especially Alzheimer’s disease.  To this goal, they have focused their efforts on studying the cell biology of the amyloid precursor protein, presenilins, and LDL receptor related protein (LRP). 

Krauzlis, Richard

The Krauzlis lab is investigating how the brain orchestrates diverse sources of information and multiple motor outputs to produce coordinated actions.  Voluntary eye movements such as saccades and smooth pursuit provide one of the best opportunities to address this question, because they can be performed easily and measured precisely, but nonetheless involve many of the same sensory, cognitive, and motor processing steps that underlie more complex behaviors. 

Kristan Jr., William

The Kristan lab studies the neuronal basis of behaviors, behavioral choice, and the development of behavioral circuits in the leech nervous system. They use electrophysiological, anatomical, imaging, and computational techniques to characterize the neuronal circuits.

Lemke, Gregory

The Lemke lab uses molecular genetics in the mouse to study cell-cell interactions in vertebrate neural development. They focus on receptor protein-tyrosine kinases of the Eph, ErbB, and Tyro 3 families, and on the transcription factors that control their expression.

Malinow, Robert

The Malinow Lab studies mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.

Mellon, Pamela

The overall goal of the Mellon lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating the neuroendocrine genes that control reproductive function.  The group focuses on developmental and hormonal gene regulation in the hypothalamus, and pituitary using molecular approaches.

Northcutt, Glen

The Northcutt lab focuses on the development and evolution of vertebrate nervous systems, with particular emphasis on sensory systems.

O’Leary, Dennis

The O’Leary lab studies vertebrate neural development with an emphasis on the mammalian cortex and subcortical structures with which it is interconnected. They integrate in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches, and employ a range of anatomical, cellular, molecular, and genetic techniques to study neural development.

Patrick, Gentry

The Patrick lab is interested in understanding the role of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in the growth and development, maintenance, and remodeling of synaptic connections in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS).

Paulus, Martin

The Paulus lab is interested in understanding decision-making processes and their dysfunction in psychiatric populations. In particular, how decision-making dysfunctions contribute to transition from casual use of drugs to drug dependence and how these dysfunctions contribute to relapse in individuals with stimulant dependence.

Pfaff, Samuel

The Pfaff lab is interested in the mechanisms that control cell fate specification in the spinal cord and in understanding how this leads to the assembly of proper connections for the control of locomotion. Their studies rely on mouse genetics, chick embryology, embryonic stem cell culture, neuronal explant culture, and electrophysiology to examine gene function.

Polich, John

The Polich lab uses neuroelectric measures to assess individuals at risk for drug abuse and acute effects.

Reinagel, Pamela

The Reinagel lab is interested in how dynamic sensory stimuli can be reliably encoded by the responses of sensory neurons, in real time and in a single trial. To address this question they combine theory and experiments to study how neurons encode visual scenes for transmission from the retina to the brain, in a relay called the LGN.

Reynolds, John

The long-range goal of the Reynolds lab is to understand the neural mechanisms of selective visual attention at the level of the individual neuron and the cortical circuit, and to relate these to perception and conscious awareness. They seek to understand this selection process using a combination of visual psychophysics, neurophysiology, and computational neural modeling.

Rosenfeld, Michael

The Rosenfeld lab investigates the regulation of gene transcription and transcriptional/signaling in the control of CNS and neuroendocrine system development.  In these investigations, the Rosenfeld laboratory has made a series of fundamental contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of the generation of specific cell types from a common primordium, and provided insights into the regulation of gene transcription by hormones and other signaling molecules.

Ryan, Allen

The Ryan lab studies the development and function of the inner ear, using the techniques of cell and molecular biology. They are interested in the developmental determination of cochlear cell phenotype, hair cell protection and regeneration, and the molecular basis transduction including cochlear mechanics, mechanotransduction channels, and outer hair cell electromotility.

Salmon, David

The Salmon lab focuses on the organization of memory and cognition in the brain through the psychological and neurological analysis of disorders of these processes in humans.

Scanziani, Massimo

The Scanziani lab focuses on how cortical circuits process information. Specifically, they study interactions between excitatory and inhibitory neurons in acute brain slices from rodents using electrophysiological, optical and anatomical techniques.

Sejnowski, Terrence

The long-range goal of Dr. Sejnowski's lab is to understand the computational resources of brains and to build linking principles from brain to behavior using computational models. This goal is being pursued with a combination of theoretical and experimental approaches at several levels of investigation ranging from the biophysical level to the systems level.

Semendeferi, Katerina

The Semendeferi lab is interested in evolution of emotional and cognitive processes in hominoids.  Their work emphasizes the acquisition of new comparative data on the organization of the human, chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, orangutan and gibbon brain at the macroscopic and microscopic levels using non-invasive techniques.

Silva, Gabriel

The Silva lab investigates intercellular cell-cell signaling in the central nervous system under physiologically normal conditions and following disease integrated across spatial scales, from individual cells to large neural cell networks.

Slesinger, Paul

The Slesinger lab utilizes a multidisciplinary approach utilizing electrophysiology, biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, proteomics, confocal imaging, and spectroscopy to study two different classes of ion channels, inwardly rectifying K+ channels (e.g. GIRK and IRK),  and ligand-gated ion channel (LGIC) receptors (specifically the 5‑HT3 receptor).

Spitzer, Nicholas

The Spitzer lab studies the development of the central nervous system, investigating the roles of electrical activity and calcium signaling in neuronal differentiation. They use confocal microscopy, electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry and molecular biology to understand the functions of embryonic forms of excitability and the signal transduction cascades by which they exert their effects.

Squire, Larry

Research in the Squire lab concerns the organization and structure of mammalian memory (humans and rodents) at the level of neural systems and cognition.  A part of the research involves studies of identified neurological patients with impaired memory.  The research program also involves rodents, particularly with respect to questions about the anatomy of memory and the function of the brain systems that support memory. 

Stevens, Charles

The work in the Stevens lab is directed towards understanding what computations are carried out by neural circuits, especially cortical regions like primary visual cortex, and how the neuronal ‘hardware’ implements these computations. His laboratory uses a combination of theoretical and experimental approaches – including electrophysiology, quantitative neuroanatomy at the light and EM levels, molecular biology, and functional imaging – to learn about brain properties related to what the brain computes.

Swerdlow, Neal

The Swerdlow lab addresses clinical and preclinical issues related to neuropsychiatric disorders of the limbic system and basal ganglia. Generally, these are disorders characterized by an inability to shut off or "gate" intrusive thoughts, sensations or movements, and include Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Huntington's disease, Tourette's Syndrome and schizophrenia.

Taylor, Palmer

The Taylor lab studies neurotransmission with particular emphasis on the postsynaptic molecules that govern neurotransmitter and drug selectivity in the cholinergic nervous system.

Thomas, John

The long-term objective of the Thomas lab is to understand how neurons are assembled into circuits during development to produce a functional nervous system.  They take a genetic approach in Drosophila to identify molecules controlling these guidance events.

Tsien, Roger

The Tsien lab studies signal transduction, especially in neurons and cancer cells, with the help of designed molecules, imaging, and photochemical manipulation.  The overall goal of the laboratory is to gain a better understanding of signaling inside individual living cells, in neuronal networks, and in tumors. They design, synthesize, and use new molecules that detect or manipulate biochemical signals.

Turner, Eric

The Turner lab is engaged in studies of the role of transcription factors in the development of the nervous system.  These studies use molecular biology to describe protein-DNA interactions in vitro and in vivo, use mouse genetics to produce loss of function mutants, and use mis-expression in developing chick embryos to determine the regulatory roles of these factors. 

Tuszynski, Mark

The Tuszynski lab studies anatomical, electrophysiological and functional plasticity in the intact and injured adult central nervous system.  Their focus is in particular on the functional role of growth factor in modulating plasticity. Their lab is currently conducting research into promoting axonal bridging and regeneration after spinal cord injury.

Vale, Wiley

The Vale lab investigates molecules critical to neuroendocrine and neural signaling, including Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF), three urocortins, 2 CRF receptors, CRF binding protein, Growth Hormone Releasing Factor, activin and activin receptors. 

Wynshaw-Boris, Anthony

The Wynshaw-Boris lab is focused on understanding genetic and biochemical pathways important for the development and function of the mammalian central nervous system and cancer. Using transgenic and knock-out technologies in the mouse, they generate models for human genetic diseases that have central nervous system disorders and cancer.

Zheng, Binhai

The Zheng lab is interested in the molecular mechanisms of axon regeneration failure in the mammalian central nervous system, which underlies the limited capacity for functional recovery in patients of spinal cord injury. They use mouse genetics, neuronal culture and animal models of spinal cord injury to study the role of growth inhibitory factors such as myelin-derived inhibitors in regeneration failure.

Zou, Yimin

The Zou lab is studying mechanisms of axon guidance in the developing nervous system, with a focus on the role of Wnt signaling in the process.