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Jim WellsView profile

Professor

• Protein Engineering
• Drug Discovery
• Cell Surface Proteomics
• +4 more

Jim Wells is a Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology. He founded the Small Molecule Discovery Center and served as Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. His research focuses on cell surface proteomics, protein engineering, and targeted drug discovery. Education: BA in Biochemistry and Psychology from UC Berkeley (1973), PhD in Biochemistry from Washington State University (1979), and postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Wells’ research spans enzyme engineering, apoptosis, and drug development for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. His lab employs mass spectrometry and affinity-directed technologies to map cell surface changes in disease states. Recent work includes CRISPRi screens for autism risk genes, hypoxia-induced proteomic remodeling in pancreatic cancer, and engineered proteins for genome editing. His publications highlight expertise in protein engineering, chemical biology, and cancer signaling. Awards include election to the National Academy of Sciences and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator designation. Wells has secured significant NIH funding for projects related to proteolysis, signaling, and biomarker discovery. Scientific Awards: Damon M. Runyon Fellowship, Pfizer Award, Christian B. Anfinsen Award, and others. He has co-founded multiple biotech companies, including Genentech (1982), Sunesis Pharmaceuticals (1998), and EpiBiologics (recently), advancing therapeutic proteases, RAF inhibitors, and extracellular degraders.

Rinki RatnapriyaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Genetics of retinal diseases
• Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
• Gene expression regulation
• +4 more

Rinki Ratnapriya, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Her research focuses on the genetics and molecular mechanisms underlying retinal and macular degenerative diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD). She holds a MSc in Genetics from the University of Delhi, a PhD in Human Molecular Genetics from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Eye Institute/NIH. Her professional interests include gene expression regulation, cis-regulatory elements in ocular diseases, and the genetic basis of AMD. Key achievements include identifying rare coding variants in AMD through family-based exome sequencing and linking retinal transcriptome profiles to disease mechanisms. Dr. Ratnapriya has received grants from institutions including Research to Prevent Blindness (Career Development Award), BrightFocus Foundation (Junior Faculty Seed Award), and Baylor College of Medicine (Individual Investigator Grant). Her work spans functional genomics, epigenetics, and machine learning applications in ophthalmology.

• Stroke Research
• Neuroimmunology
• Neurological Recovery
• +3 more

Sunghee Cho, Ph.D., is a Professor of Neuroscience at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Director of the Stroke Neuroimmunology Laboratory at Burke Neurological Institute. Her research focuses on neuron-immune interactions in stroke-induced brain injury and repair mechanisms. She holds affiliations with Burke Medical Research Institute and serves on editorial boards for Stroke , Cerebral Blood Flow/Metabolism , and Translational Stroke Research . Dr. Cho is a Fellow of the American Heart/Stroke Association and a chartered member of the NIH Neural Oxidative Metabolism and Death (NOMD) study section. Her work is funded by NIH grants (NINDS, NHLBI, NCRR), the American Heart Association, and industry partnerships like Sanofi. Education B.S., Chemistry, Yonsei University (Korea) M.S., Human Nutrition, Cornell University Ph.D., Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College Postdoctoral Fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical College (Molecular Neurobiology) Research Interests Dr. Cho’s lab investigates immune mechanisms in stroke, particularly CD36’s role in BBB dysfunction, monocyte infiltration, and neuroinflammation. Key areas include stroke recovery modulation via CD36 inhibition, obesity-stroke comorbidities, and translational therapies targeting neurovascular interactions. Her studies bridge preclinical models and clinical relevance, emphasizing stroke recovery and resilience in neurodegenerative conditions. Publications & Awards Recent work includes breakthroughs in CD36-mediated efferocytosis and stroke recovery (2025), 2-deoxyglucose-driven neuroplasticity (2023), and VEGF-trap therapies (2021). Awards include FAHA Fellowship and NIH leadership roles in international consortia. Labs & Collaborations Primary lab: Cho Lab . Collaborations with Gibson Lab, Ratan Lab, and the NINDS European consortium. Research methods include gene expression analysis, molecular studies, and neuroimmunology techniques.

Abdelrahman Y. FoudaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Immunology
• +5 more

Abdelrahman Y. Fouda is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine. He leads the Fouda Lab, which focuses on central nervous system (CNS) injury mechanisms, particularly in the retina and brain. His research employs molecular, cellular, and animal models to study diseases like diabetic retinopathy, traumatic optic neuropathy, and stroke. Key areas include myeloid cell modulation (macrophages/microglia) and neurovascular repair. Dr. Fouda’s lab is funded by NIH/NEI and has access to advanced retinal imaging and electrophysiology equipment. Education: B.Pharm, Cairo University School of Pharmacy (2002-2007) Ph.D., University of Georgia Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics (2011-2015) Postdoctoral training at University of Georgia (2015-2016) and Augusta University (2016-2021) Research interests emphasize immune cell interactions in CNS diseases, targeting arginase pathways and HDAC3 to promote reparative phenotypes. Recent grants include the UAMS Hornick Stroke Award (2024-2025) and NIH R00 EY029373 (2021-2024). His lab’s innovations include pegylated arginase 1 therapies and proteomic analysis for retinal injury biomarkers. Key Awards: AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018-2020) NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award Labs/Teams: Fouda Lab Group with specialized equipment for in vivo retinal imaging (Bioptigen SDOIS) and electroretinography (Celeris ERG). Dr. Fouda’s work bridges bench-to-bedside translational research, aiming to develop therapies for retinal and CNS injuries through precise molecular targeting.

Justin S RhodesView profile

Professor

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Biology
• Neurogenesis
• +4 more

Justin S Rhodes is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds affiliations with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. His research focuses on neuroplasticity, behavioral neuroscience, and the molecular mechanisms underlying voluntary exercise and brain health. Key areas include studying how stress, exercise, and genetics influence brain structure and function in animal models, particularly in species like anemonefish and mice. His work explores topics such as sex differentiation in clownfish, microglial responses to stress, and the genetic basis of voluntary wheel-running behavior. Notable contributions include transgenic fish models and insights into neuroendocrine regulation of parental care. His research bridges basic science with translational studies, addressing questions relevant to human health, aging, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Rhodes has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work emphasizing microglia biology, behavioral syndromes in marine species, and the interplay between exercise and neurogenesis. His findings highlight the importance of environmental and genetic factors in shaping brain plasticity and behavior. He collaborates extensively with researchers globally, focusing on interdisciplinary projects that integrate genomics, neuroscience, and behavioral ecology. His lab’s work has implications for understanding conditions like autism, Alzheimer’s, and the effects of chemotherapy on cognition.

Wei WangView profile

Research Fellow

• Sociology
• Character-based Leadership
• International Development
• +5 more

Wei Wang is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Lead Researcher for the Value-based Leadership for International Development (VBLID) project, affiliated with the University of Oxford (Department of Sociology) and collaborating with the Legatum Foundation and the Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences at Harvard University . She is also a Research Fellow at the Oxford Character Project and Research Associate for the GenTime Project . Research Interests : Character-based leadership training, domestic labour sociology, social change in post-reform China, and immunology-neuroscience intersections. Her work spans social policy and gender studies neuroimmunology and pain research epigenetic regulation of immune cells neurodegenerative disease mechanisms Publications demonstrate interdisciplinary focus: 2025 sociology preprints on domestic labour and cohabitation trends, alongside 2015-2025 immunology/neuroscience studies on natural killer cells, Treg modulation, and CNS inflammation. Key collaborations include Harvard’s IQSS and Oxford’s multidisciplinary projects. Labs & Teams : GenTime Project (Department of Sociology) Oxford Character Project Legatum Foundation partnerships Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences

Bingshan LiView profile

Professor

• Computational and statistical genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Cancer genomics
• +4 more

Bingshan Li, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. His research focuses on computational and statistical genomics, bioinformatics, cancer genomics, complex diseases, and the genetics of psychiatric disorders. He leads studies integrating multi-omics data to identify genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying diseases such as Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, and schizophrenia. Specializes in multi-ancestry genomic studies, particularly in African and Asian populations. Develops computational tools for drug repurposing and risk prediction using AI and machine learning. Conducts translational research on circulating tumor cells and methylation biomarkers in cancer progression. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, emphasizing precision medicine and population health disparities. Recent efforts include leveraging electronic health records and AI to predict disease progression and repurpose drugs for Alzheimer’s. Publications span over 15 years, with a focus on cancer genetics, neurodegenerative diseases, and computational methodologies. No scientific awards were explicitly listed in the provided text.

David BrownView profile

Professor

• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Metal Binding Proteins
• Oxidative Stress
• +3 more

David Brown is a Professor in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath. His research focuses on proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prion diseases. He investigates copper-binding prion proteins and their role in cellular oxidative stress, as well as alpha-synuclein’s metal interaction mechanisms. Current funding includes grants from Alzheimer's Research UK and BRACE for projects on senescent microglia, neurodegeneration models, and metal-binding proteins. These include studies on microglial senescence’s impact on β-amyloid processing and α-synuclein toxicity mechanisms. Brown welcomes PhD candidates and collaborates with industrial partners. Research employs techniques like isothermal titration calorimetry and EPR spectroscopy to study metal-protein interactions. Major findings include demonstrating the prion protein’s copper-binding role and alpha-synuclein’s iron-reduction activity in cells. Recent work explores senescent microglia’s role in dementia, showing how these cells induce disease-related changes in β-amyloid and α-synuclein pathways. Brown’s lab also investigates how metal ion dynamics contribute to neurodegenerative pathology.

Mona HavikView profile

Research Fellow

• Pharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Lipid Biology
• +3 more

Mona Havik is a Research Fellow at the University of Oslo, affiliated with the Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences within the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Her research focuses on lipid droplet dynamics in neurons and microglia, particularly examining their distribution under conditions of diabetes and the effects of exercise. She contributes to interdisciplinary projects like LIPIDBRAIN, exploring neurobiological mechanisms related to metabolic disorders. No formal academic awards or student advisement roles are explicitly noted in the provided materials. Her work integrates pharmacological and cellular approaches to understand neural health and metabolic interactions. Publications to date emphasize experimental studies on lipid biology in neurological contexts.

Bart EggenView profile

Professor

• Neurosciences
• Cell Biology
• Neuroinflammation
• +5 more

Prof. Bart Eggen is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Medical Sciences. His research focuses on neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis), and microglial biology. He leads the Molecular Neurobiology section and holds roles on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Alzheimer Nederland and the Dutch Society for MS Research. Key research interests include gene expression regulation, epigenetics, and cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. Recent work explores microglia's role in synaptic pruning, remyelination, and aging-related inflammation. Eggen has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and collaborates internationally on projects like the Netherlands Neurogenetics Database (NND). Education: Not explicitly stated in provided texts. Research Highlights: Focuses on microglia dynamics, neuroinflammation, and translational research linking basic biology to neurological disorders. His laboratory investigates cellular senescence in brain aging, epigenetic reprogramming in microglia, and omics approaches to study glial biology. Collaborative projects include brain organoid models for neurodegeneration and glioblastoma research. Eggen's work has implications for developing therapies targeting microglial dysfunction in diseases like Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. Awards/Grants: Not explicitly listed in provided texts, though his prolific publication record suggests sustained research funding. He chairs/advises multiple national research initiatives.

• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology
• +7 more

Michael Bienkowski is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California (USC), affiliated with the Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering. He leads the translational research laboratory, the USC Center for Integrative Connectomics, which focuses on advancing connectomics and transcriptomics approaches to study neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and retinal degeneration. His work emphasizes cell-type specific analysis of gene expression and connectivity in rodent and human brain tissues, aiming to create translational cell type atlases for guiding clinical drug development and optimizing treatment strategies at progressive disease stages. His research interests span neurodegenerative diseases, cell biology, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality (Schol-AR) for enhancing data accessibility in scientific publications. This innovation allows direct embedding of datasets and interactive visualizations within papers, revolutionizing how neuroscientific findings are communicated. Recent publications highlight advancements in axon regeneration therapies, microglia classification in Alzheimer’s cases, and the application of machine learning to predict cognitive impairment via hippocampal subregion analysis. His work on mouse models (e.g., 5xFAD mice) elucidates disease mechanisms in structures like the subiculum and basal ganglia networks, providing insights into neurodegeneration progression. Dr. Bienkowski is part of the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at USC and collaborates with institutions such as CTSI (Clinical and Translational Science Institute). No scientific awards or part-time roles are explicitly mentioned in the provided information. His advising and grants activities are not detailed here, though his lab’s translational focus suggests active grant-supported research.

Weiming YuanView profile

Associate Professor

• NKT Cell Immunology
• Viral Immune Evasion
• Herpesvirus Pathogenesis
• +2 more

Dr. Weiming Yuan is an Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on NKT cell immunology and viral immune evasion strategies, particularly how herpesviruses subvert CD1d-mediated antigen presentation to evade immune detection. The Yuan Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms by which viruses like herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) and SARS-CoV-2 inhibit NKT cell function and compromise immune responses. Recent work includes characterization of blood-brain barrier impairment in COVID-19 and development of NKT-targeted therapies against SARS-CoV-2. The lab employs humanized mouse models to study human-specific immune pathways and develop immunotherapies. Key research areas: Viral immune evasion mechanisms targeting antigen presentation NKT cell activation in antiviral and antitumor immunity Humanized mouse models for immunotherapy development Neuroimmune responses to viral infections Dr. Yuan's work has been published in high-impact journals including Cell Host & Microbe, PLOS Pathogens, and PNAS. His laboratory combines virology, immunology, and molecular biology approaches to develop novel therapeutic strategies against viral infections and cancer.

• Inflammatory processes
• Neutrophil biology
• Lectin-glycan interactions
• +3 more

Anna Karlsson-Bengtsson is a Full Professor of Molecular Medicine at Chalmers University of Technology's School of Life Sciences, Department of Chemical Biology, where she leads the Karlsson-Bengtsson Lab. She also holds an Affiliated Professor position at the Department of Medicine, University of Gothenburg since December 2021. Her academic leadership includes serving as Vice President of Education and Life-Long Learning at Chalmers (2019-2022) and Vice Dean for PhD Education at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg (2016-2019). Her research focuses on the regulation of inflammatory processes, particularly investigating neutrophil sugar structures and their interactions with lectins like galectins. The Karlsson-Bengtsson Lab employs a basic scientific approach to study how these sugar-binding proteins with immunoregulatory functions interact with neutrophils, with translational studies examining blood cells from children with autoinflammatory diseases. The long-term goal is to influence inflammatory processes at the molecular level for both chronically and acutely ill patients. Her work is supported by the Swedish Research Council – Medicine. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on neutrophil biology, glycan-lectin interactions, and autoinflammatory disorders, particularly PFAPA syndrome. Her research spans molecular mechanisms of inflammation, glycoproteome remodeling during neutrophil development, and clinical applications for inflammatory conditions. The work demonstrates integration of basic molecular research with clinical applications, particularly in pediatric autoinflammatory diseases. Professor Karlsson-Bengtsson has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles in international journals, with recent work appearing in high-impact immunology and molecular biology journals. Her research bridges glycobiology, immunology, and clinical medicine, with particular emphasis on understanding inflammatory mechanisms at the molecular level. She has extensive experience in academic leadership and educational reform, having implemented significant changes to educational structures at Chalmers University. Her laboratory operates within the Chemical Biology research environment at Chalmers, collaborating with other research groups in the Life Sciences department.

Johannes de BoerView profile

Professor

• Optical Coherence Tomography
• Biophotonics
• Medical Imaging
• +4 more

Prof. Johannes de Boer is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Biophotonics and Medical Imaging department and the LaserLaB research group. His research focuses on advancing optical coherence tomography (OCT) and biophotonics technologies for medical imaging applications, including lung disease diagnostics, ophthalmology, and semiconductor metrology. He holds ancillary roles as an advisor at ScinVivo and director at PolderOptics, demonstrating industry collaboration in medical device development. Research interests emphasize innovative imaging techniques such as polarization-sensitive OCT for fibrosis assessment, immuno-OCT for cancer detection, and multimode fiber imaging for super-resolution applications. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and technological advancement. Over 257 research outputs and 13 supervised PhD theses highlight his prolific contributions to biophotonics and medical engineering. Key Technologies: Optical Coherence Tomography, Digital Holographic Microscopy, Multimode Fiber Imaging Applications: Lung Disease Diagnosis, Ocular Imaging, Semiconductor Metrology Notable Achievements: Developed novel correction methods for OCT artifacts and pioneered endoscopic immuno-OCT systems Current projects include advancing AI-driven retinal imaging for Alzheimer’s diagnosis and improving overlay metrology in semiconductor manufacturing. His lab’s work bridges fundamental research with translational medical and industrial applications.

• Genetics
• Molecular Biology
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• +3 more

Ana Carreras Mascaro is a Research Fellow at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , affiliated with the Faculty of Science and the Functional Genomics department. Her research focuses on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, as well as developmental biology in zebrafish models. Her work spans disciplines such as Genetics Molecular Biology Neuroscience Immunopathology Developmental Biology with specific emphasis on lysosomal function in microglia, phosphatase activity in neurodisorders, and innate lymphoid cells in respiratory diseases. Recent publications highlight her contributions to understanding LRP10-SORL1 interactions in neurodegeneration, enzyme deficiency effects in zebrafish brain development, and genetic variants in Parkinsonism. No formal scientific awards or student advisement details are listed in the provided information.