Dianna E. WillisView profile
Assistant Professor
Dr. Dianna E. Willis, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine and Brain and Mind Research Institute. She serves as the Associate Director of the Burke Neurological Institute, Lab Director of the Laboratory for Axonal and RNA Biology, and Co-Director of the Center for Pain & Sensory Recovery. Dr. Willis is a prominent researcher in the field of axonal biology, with a focus on understanding how mRNA transport and local protein synthesis in neurons contribute to neural regeneration, neuropathic pain, and peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Willis earned her bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994 and her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Delaware in 2002. She completed her postdoctoral training at Nemours Biomedical Research at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children from 2002-2007, focusing on local translation in neuronal axons. She joined the Burke Neurological Institute in 2010 as Director of the Center for Pain Research. Dr. Willis's research focuses on axon-intrinsic mechanisms of peripheral neurons that are critical for their proper function, regeneration capacity, and contribution to pathological conditions such as pain and neuropathy. Her lab investigates how localized protein synthesis provides neurons with the ability to rapidly respond to their environment. While dendritic protein synthesis has been well-studied, her work has helped establish that axons also contain mRNA and translation machinery, challenging previous dogma. Current projects include targeting misregulated ion channels to attenuate neuropathic pain, studying local translation at the neuromuscular junction, examining altered axonal RNA localization in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and targeting microtubule modifications to improve axonal transport. Dr. Willis's extensive publication record demonstrates her leadership in understanding axonal mRNA transport, local protein synthesis, and their roles in neural repair and disease. Her work spans from fundamental mechanisms of RNA biology in neurons to translational applications for treating neuropathic pain and peripheral neuropathies. Associate Editor in Neurobiology of Disease, Journal of Neuroscience (2012–2019) Associate Director of Burke Neurological Institute (2018–present) Chair, NST-2 study section (2021–present) Dr. Willis has received significant recognition for her contributions to neuroscience, particularly in the areas of axonal biology and RNA regulation in neurons. Her laboratory at the Burke Neurological Institute trains numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, contributing to the next generation of neuroscientists. She has secured multiple research grants supporting her innovative work on axonal RNA biology and its implications for neural repair and disease. Her laboratory collaborates extensively with other research groups at Weill Cornell Medicine and beyond, working at the intersection of neuroscience, molecular biology, and translational medicine to develop novel approaches for treating neurological disorders.
