Lindsay M. De Biase, Ph.D., University of California Los Angeles
The Role of Microglial Lysosomes in Selective Neuronal VulnerabilitySynapses, the sites of signaling between neurons in the brain, play essential roles in learning, memory, and the health of neurons themselves. An enduring mystery is why some neurons are…
How the Nervous System Constructs Internal Models of the External WorldAs animals navigate their environments, they construct internal models of the external sensory world and use these models to guide their behavior. This ability to incorporate ongoing sensory stimuli into…
Xiaojing Gao, Ph.D., Stanford University
When Neural Circuits Meet Molecular Circuits: Quantitative Genetic Manipulation with Single-cell ConsistencyCells are the building blocks of our bodies. We get sick when the cells “misbehave”. The way modern gene therapies work is to introduce genes, fragments of DNA molecules that…
Rafiq Huda, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Conducting the Orchestra of Movement—Functional Role of Striatal Astrocytes in Health and DiseaseMovement requires coordinated activity across a large brain-wide network. The striatum is a particularly important part of this circuit; it integrates motor-related information from many distinct brain regions to regulate…
Ethan G. Hughes, Ph.D., University of Colorado
Rethinking Remyelination: The Role of Mature Oligodendrocytes in RemyelinationCan the adult brain regenerate? Finding the answer to this question is an overarching goal of the field of neuroscience.
Joseph G. Makin, Ph.D., Purdue University
Decoding Speech from ElectrocorticographyLosing the ability to speak can be devastating. Sometimes, though, people lose this ability without losing the ability to plan the proper mouth movements for speaking.
Anna V. Molofsky, M.D.,Ph.D., University of California San Francisco
A Zebrafish Model to Study Microglial-Extracellular Matrix Dynamics During Synapse DevelopmentThe connections between nerve cells- called synapses- are essential for all brain functions, including thinking, behavior, and movement. Impaired development of these synaptic connections can contribute to disorders like autism…