Find Academic Supervisors

Yukiko GotohView profile

Professor

• Neural Development
• Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells
• Epigenetics
• +7 more

Yukiko Gotoh is a Professor at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo. She serves as the Deputy Director and Principal Investigator at the International Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN). Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that regulate neural stem/progenitor cell fate during embryonic brain development and in the adult brain. Dr. Gotoh's research interests include: Genetic and epigenetic regulation of neural stem/progenitor cell fate Neuronal maturation processes Genesis and maintenance of adult neural stem cells Relevance of neural stem/progenitor cell dysregulation in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders Investigation of mechanisms regulating neural stem-progenitor cell fate during neocortical development Genetic and epigenetic regulation of neuronal activation Analysis of Dr. Gotoh's recent publications reveals a strong focus on neural stem cell biology, epigenetic regulation, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her work demonstrates how chromatin modifiers like Polycomb group proteins and HMGA proteins regulate neural stem cell fate decisions during brain development. A significant portion of her research explores the embryonic origins of adult neural stem cells and how dysregulation of these processes contributes to conditions like autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Her laboratory also investigates the basic mechanisms of cellular responses to viral infection in the brain and their relevance to neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Gotoh has made significant contributions to understanding: The role of Polycomb group proteins in neural development How chromatin modifiers regulate neurogenic potential Cell cycle regulation in neural stem cells The PDK1-Akt pathway in neuronal migration Layer-specific heterogeneity of astrocytes Mechanisms underlying schizophrenia-related abnormalities Dr. Gotoh's laboratory conducts research on multiple fronts related to neural development and stem cell biology. Her team investigates: Mechanisms regulating neural stem-progenitor cell fate during neocortical development Genetic and epigenetic regulation of neuronal activation The embryonic origin of adult neural stem cells Dysregulation of neural stem-progenitor cell and neuronal fate in neurodevelopmental disorders Innate immune responses in the brain

Yeonhwa ParkView profile

Professor

• Functional Foods
• Obesity
• Environmental Contaminants
• +3 more

Yeonhwa Park is a Professor and holder of the Francis Chair in the Department of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research focuses on functional foods, bioactive components, and environmental contaminants' effects on obesity and aging. She investigates food bioactives like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and environmental pollutants like PFAS to understand their roles in metabolic disorders and aging mechanisms. Her work spans multiple models, including C. elegans, zebrafish, and rodent studies, emphasizing translational applications for human health. Teaching responsibilities include courses such as 'Science of Food' (FS150), 'Biology of Food in Human Health' (FS270), and 'Bioactive Food Components' (FS750). Awards include Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2017–2018), Faculty Convocation Award (2015), and the Timothy Mounts Award (2015). Her research has been published in over 150 peer-reviewed articles, with recent emphasis on environmental contaminants' impact on obesity and type 2 diabetes, and the use of C. elegans for screening bioactives. Key findings include CLA's role in fat reduction, PFAS-induced metabolic disruption, and the application of alternative models (e.g., C. elegans) to reduce animal testing. Her lab integrates molecular biology, toxicology, and food science to address global health challenges like the obesity epidemic and environmental toxin exposure.

Sai ZhangView profile

Assistant Professor

• Machine Learning
• Genomics
• Precision Medicine
• +5 more

Sai Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Florida (UF), holding affiliations with the College of Public Health & Health Professions and College of Medicine. He is also an Affiliate Faculty in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. Previously, he was an Instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine and a Research Associate at the VA Palo Alto Epidemiology Research and Information Center (ERIC). Dr. Zhang completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Technology at Tsinghua University, followed by postdoctoral training in Dr. Michael Snyder’s lab at Stanford Genetics. His research integrates machine learning, genomics, and precision medicine to uncover genomic bases of complex diseases. Key focuses include developing algorithms for multiomic data analysis, modeling genotype-phenotype relationships, and leveraging deep learning for biological sequence analysis. His work emphasizes cell-type-specific mechanisms in diseases like ALS, coronary artery disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Notable contributions include frameworks for polygenic risk scoring (e.g., PRS-Net), biomarker discovery for ALS, and tools for time-to-event prediction in neurological diseases. He leads the Zhang Laboratory, advancing computational systems for precision health applications.

Anna G OrrView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroscience
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Astrocyte Biology
• +5 more

Anna G Orr serves as Nan and Stephen Swid Assistant Professor of Frontotemporal Dementia Research and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College's Brain and Mind Research Institute since 2016, leading pioneering research on astrocyte biology in dementia pathogenesis. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. from Emory University (2008) B.S. from Allegheny College (2002) Dr. Orr's research program centers on astrocytic-neuronal interactions , mitochondrial signaling , and neuroimmune mechanisms through three interconnected pathways: neuroimmune , oxidative , and G protein-coupled signaling . Her lab investigates how these mechanisms influence neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, synaptic function, and behavioral outcomes in dementia, with parallel therapeutic discovery efforts targeting astrocytic pathways for novel dementia treatments. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2025-2010) reveals escalating focus on astrocyte-specific dementia mechanisms , particularly mitochondrial ROS signaling, sex-dimorphic memory effects, TDP-43 pathology interactions with antiviral pathways, and lipid dysregulation in neurodegeneration. Her work consistently bridges molecular discoveries with therapeutic applications, demonstrating increasing NIH funding support for translational approaches. Key scientific recognitions include: NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (2017) Leon Levy Fellowship in Neuroscience (2021) Nan and Stephen Swid Endowed Professorship (2021) Outstanding Neuroscience Teaching Award (2021) Dr. Orr actively mentors eight trainees across career stages, including Ph.D. candidates Evelyn Hardin and Constance Zhou, while securing major NIH grants as Principal Investigator for projects like Uncovering Dementia-Related Lipid Alterations in Astrocytes (NIA 2024-2026) and Mitochondrial Complex III Free Radicals in Dementia Pathology (NIA 2020-2026), alongside collaborative awards from the Alzheimer's Association. Her Orr Lab maintains a dual focus on mechanistic astrocyte biology and therapeutic translation, with current projects examining astrocytic TDP-43 dysregulation, mitochondrial complex III signaling, and sex-specific memory mechanisms using advanced in vivo techniques and disease models.

Andrew BassettView profile

Researcher

• Genome Engineering
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Stem Cell Research
• +5 more

Dr. Andrew Bassett serves as Head of the Cellular and Gene Editing Research group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, where he develops cutting-edge genome engineering techniques using human pluripotent stem cells to investigate neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. His work focuses on scaling genetic screening approaches and improving CRISPR specificity for modeling complex disease mechanisms. His academic training includes: PhD at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC-LMB) with Andrew Travers on chromatin remodelling in heterochromatin formation Postdoctoral research with David Baulcombe at the University of Cambridge studying small RNA roles in chromatin modification Additional postdoctoral work with Chris Ponting at the MRC Functional Genomics Unit (MRC-FGU) in Oxford, where he pioneered CRISPR applications in Drosophila Bassett's research program centers on developing advanced genome engineering methodologies for precise modulation of gene expression networks during development and neurodegeneration. His group specializes in creating complex editing events (SNPs, paired knockouts, enhancer perturbations) within iPSC-derived models, with particular emphasis on epigenetic regulation and transcriptional control. Current projects integrate single-cell 'omics and phenotypic assays to decode genetic causes of neurodegenerative disorders through the OpenTargets consortium. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in CRISPR technology development (35%), neurodegenerative disease modeling (30%), and single-cell functional genomics (25%). His work consistently bridges methodological innovation with disease mechanism studies, increasingly incorporating multi-omics approaches and expanding into cancer immunology and infectious disease applications since 2022. As group leader, Bassett mentors postdoctoral researchers and PhD students while securing major funding for genome engineering initiatives. His team operates within the Sanger Institute's Cellular Operations division and maintains critical partnerships with the OpenTargets consortium for therapeutic target validation. The laboratory specializes in high-throughput screening platforms using iPSC-derived neural and microglial models, with recent methodological advances including scSNV-seq and ONE-STEP tagging systems that significantly enhance precision genome editing capabilities.

Brandon WeissbourdView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroscience
• Evolutionary Biology
• Systems Neuroscience
• +3 more

Brandon Weissbourd is an Assistant Professor in the Biology department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and holds a joint appointment as an Investigator at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory. He joined MIT in 2023 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of David Anderson at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Prior to that, he earned his PhD in Biology from Stanford University in 2016 under the mentorship of Liqun Luo, and a BA in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University in 2009. His research interests encompass systems neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and molecular biology. He uses jellyfish models, such as Clytia hemisphaerica, to study the evolution and functional mechanisms of nervous systems. His work combines computational techniques like single-cell RNA-seq and advanced microscopy with traditional genetic and anatomical approaches to dissect neural circuits and their roles in behaviors like feeding and social interaction. Additionally, he has explored serotonin and noradrenaline systems in mammals, focusing on their heterogeneity and functional connectivity. Recent publications emphasize the utility of non-traditional model organisms for evolutionary studies and underscore his expertise in computational methods for neurobiological analysis. Earlier work includes groundbreaking studies on the dorsal raphe serotonin system and basal forebrain circuits governing sleep-wake cycles. No scientific awards or honors have been explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Weissbourd’s academic trajectory reflects a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research, merging evolutionary, molecular, and systems-level perspectives to understand neural systems across species. His advising record is not detailed here, though he has been affiliated with prestigious research labs during his training. Current affiliations include the MIT Biology department and the Picower Institute, where he likely contributes to collaborative projects in systems and evolutionary neuroscience. Weissbourd’s work is grounded in experimental models such as Clytia medusa and mouse brain studies, enabling him to investigate both ancient nervous system architectures and modern mammalian neural pathways. His lab’s focus on functional genomics and circuit mapping positions him at the forefront of studies on neural diversity and evolutionary innovation.

Michael EconomoView profile

Assistant Professor

• Systems Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Neural Circuits
• +3 more

Michael N. Economo, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. His research focuses on neural circuits controlling movement, leveraging cutting-edge optical, electrophysiological, and genetic tools. He holds affiliations with Neuroscience & Neuroengineering and Photonics & Optical Systems programs. Education: PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, B.S. Biomedical Engineering and B.A. Mathematics from Duke University. Research Interests: Systems neuroscience, motor control, long-range neural circuits, computational neuroscience, neurotechnology. His lab investigates how neural circuits across brain regions coordinate movement using advanced techniques like optogenetics, in vivo imaging, and transcriptomics. Key Projects: Orofacial motor control, voltage imaging with TICO microscopy, neural circuit dissection. Technologies: Neuropixels probes, fluorescent voltage indicators, single-cell RNA sequencing. Notable Awards: NSF CAREER (2023), Scialog Fellow (2023), Whitehall Foundation Young Investigator Award (2021). Advising & Grants: Supervises graduate students (e.g., Munib Hasnain, Jackie Birnbaum) and postdocs (e.g., Vicky Moya, Yujin Han). Lab members focus on motor planning, neuromodulation, and neural dynamics. Labs/Teams: The Economo Lab collaborates on neurotechnology development and integrates interdisciplinary approaches from engineering and biology. Affiliated with BU’s Graduate Program in Neuroscience.

Silvia MaioliView profile

Associate Professor

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Neuroscience
• Cholesterol Metabolism
• +4 more

Silvia Maioli is an Associate Professor (Docent) and Principal Researcher at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, where she leads the 'Alzheimer's Disease Risk Factors & Sex-Specific Mechanisms' research group. She is also Facility Coordinator for the Animal Behavior Core Facility (ABCF) at Karolinska Institutet. Dr. Maioli earned her PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Bologna in 2011, followed by postdoctoral training at Karolinska Institutet. Her research focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms behind risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's Disease (AD), with particular emphasis on sex differences. Her laboratory investigates: Cholesterol metabolism in the brain and its role in AD progression The interplay between ApoE, cholesterol metabolites (oxysterols), and neurodegeneration Sex hormone interactions with brain cholesterol metabolism Multi-medication therapies and their sex-specific effects on AD pathology Identification of early biomarkers for women at risk of developing AD CYP46A1 as a potential therapeutic target for women at higher risk of AD Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong translational approach combining mouse models with human clinical data to identify sex-specific therapeutic targets. Her work demonstrates that common multi-medication therapies affect AD pathology differently in male and female mice, and that protein activation in the brain may protect women against neurodegenerative diseases. Scientific Recognition Royal grant from King Gustaf V and Queen Victoria's Foundation for research on sex-differences in Alzheimer's Disease Nearly 20 million SEK from the Swedish Research Council Multiple grants from Alzheimerfonden, KID-funding, and other foundations Dr. Maioli actively mentors the next generation of researchers, currently serving as main supervisor for 2 PhD students and co-supervisor for 3 PhD students. She has directed two PhD theses and supervised 15 master's students. Her teaching includes directing the PhD Course 5239 'Behavioral Analysis in Rodents' and contributing to several other programs at Karolinska Institutet. As Facility Coordinator for the Animal Behavior Core Facility, Dr. Maioli leads a team specializing in behavioral testing of mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. Her laboratory employs molecular biology techniques, in vitro and in vivo models, and analysis of human samples to investigate sex-specific mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease.

Gerald QuonView profile

Associate Professor

• Computational Biology
• Single Cell Genomics
• Epigenomics
• +5 more

Gerald Quon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of California, Davis. He is affiliated with the Genome Center and participates in multiple graduate programs, including Integrative Genetics and Genomics, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Biostatistics, and Biomedical Engineering. Education: PhD in Computer Science from the University of Toronto (2012) MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto (2006) Research Interests: Dr. Quon applies computational approaches to genetics and genomics problems, focusing on the genetics of human disease , models of cell population dynamics , and neurogenomics . His lab builds neural network models to understand how genetic variation affects disease risk through molecular and cellular phenotypes, with applications to obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, psychiatric disorders, and Rett syndrome. Recent Research Trends: Recent publications highlight work in neuroplasticity , single-cell multimodal analysis , brain evolution , morphological variation modeling , and microbiome-based classification . His team combines sequencing and imaging technologies to model cellular interactions and gene expression dynamics. Scientific Awards: NIH New Innovator Award (2021) Grants & Collaborations: He received NSF funding (2019) for computational tools in single-cell analysis and collaborates across disciplines, including neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and computational biology. His lab develops software like scProjection , siVAE , and scAlign .

Simon ArthurView profile

Professor

• Immunology
• Cell Signalling
• Inflammation Biology
• +3 more

Simon Arthur is a Professor of Immune Signalling at the University of Dundee, School of Life Sciences, within the Department of Cell Signalling and Immunology. His research focuses on understanding inflammatory processes, particularly the role of innate immune cells in coordinating inflammation and resolving immune responses. He holds a PhD from the University of Oxford (1995) and a BSc from Durham University (1990). Arthur is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (2015) and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry . His teaching includes courses on Genetics, Cell Signalling, Immunology, and advanced topics in immunology and cell signalling. He supervises PhD projects on microglial phenotypes in brain ageing and immunomodulatory factors in helminth-host interactions. Arthur leads research projects funded by the Medical Research Council and other agencies, including studies on liver fibrosis, bile acid diarrhoea, and pulmonary fibrosis. Key research themes include cytokine regulation, macrophage function, and the molecular mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation. His work spans from fundamental biology to translational research, aiming to develop therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Arthur collaborates internationally and has over 180 publications in high-impact journals.

Lief FennoView profile

Assistant Professor

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics & Genomics
• Electrophys
• +6 more

Lief Fenno, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with Dell Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the College of Natural Sciences’ Department of Neurology. He is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in addiction medicine, particularly medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. His research focuses on molecular and viral tools to study neuron circuitry and behavior, with applications in precision medicine for neurological and psychiatric conditions. Fenno earned his MD and PhD from Stanford University and a BA in neurobiology from Harvard University. His research integrates neuroscience, bioengineering, and clinical medicine to develop novel tools for understanding neural circuits. Key interests include optogenetics, chemogenetics, and optical imaging of neuronal activity in awake subjects. The Fenno Lab explores mechanisms of neurological diseases, particularly addiction, and aims to translate findings into clinical treatments. Recent work emphasizes brain-wide mapping of neural circuits, including studies on glutamate neuron subtypes and VTA-lateral habenula interactions. His lab also develops sono-optogenetic technologies and nanotransducers for deep brain stimulation. Fenno’s educational background includes residency in psychiatry and a bioengineering fellowship at Stanford, underscoring his interdisciplinary approach to neuroscientific challenges.

Doron BetelView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computational Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Single-cell RNA-seq Analysis
• +3 more

Doron Betel serves as an Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine's Graduate School of Medical Sciences, with affiliations in both the Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology and Computational Biology programs. He directs the Applied Bioinformatics Core (ABC), a central service group providing specialized computational and analytical support for biomedical research across multiple institutions. Dr. Betel's research focuses on developing computational genomic tools for studying human diseases and cellular development, with emphasis on integrative analyses of genomic and epigenomic data from high-throughput assays. His work addresses specific questions related to disease progression, treatment response, stem cell differentiation, and neurological processes through two closely interacting research groups: the Applied Bioinformatics Core and his independent research lab. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on single-cell and spatial genomics, cross-species data integration, and machine learning applications in cancer immunology and neurodegenerative disease modeling. His research spans multiple high-impact areas including cancer immunotherapy, stem cell biology, diabetes research, and cardiovascular regeneration, with numerous publications in top journals like Nature, Cell, and Nature Immunology. Through the Applied Bioinformatics Core, Dr. Betel provides extensive analytical support across various genomic platforms including single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, and variant calling. The Core serves as a vital resource for researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the broader Tri-Institutional network, offering specialized analysis, computational pipelines, and training services. Dr. Betel maintains extensive collaborations with leading researchers including Lorenz Studer at MSKCC for stem cell and neurodegenerative disease research, Tuomas Tammela for cancer genomics, and multiple immunology researchers studying T cell function in autoimmunity and cancer. His work bridges computational methodology development with direct biomedical applications across multiple disease areas.

• Neuroscience
• Neurobiology
• Visual Neuroscience
• +3 more

Vincent Bonin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology at KU Leuven's Faculty of Sciences. He is affiliated with the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Neuro Electronics Research Flanders (NERF) and the KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI). His research focuses on neural circuits and visual neuroscience, with an emphasis on cortical and subcortical mechanisms of perception and plasticity. Research Interests: Vincent investigates visual coding, cortical connectivity, and brain circuit dynamics. His work spans topics like: Role of non-hierarchical visual pathways in perception Dendritic processing in the superior colliculus Cell type-specific connectivity in layer 2/3 visual cortex Astrocyte-mediated cortical plasticity Development of high-resolution intracortical visual prosthetics Recent Projects: • The contributions of non-hierarchical visual pathways to visual coding and perceptual behavior (2025-2028) • An investigation into cell type-specific connectivity rules in visual cortex (2024-2027) • Short- and long-term circuit mechanisms of motor rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (2024-2027)

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Genetics
• Electrophysiology
• +3 more

Rui M. Costa is a Professor of Neuroscience at Columbia University, with appointments in Neurology and the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. His research focuses on understanding how molecular networks in the brain influence neural circuits to shape behaviors, particularly in action control and disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Primary Affiliation: Columbia University Departments: Neuroscience, Neurology Institute: Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute Research Interests Molecular and neural circuit mechanisms of action control Goal-directed actions vs. habits Behavioral disorders: Autism and OCD Neural plasticity in motor learning Publication Trends His recent work explores corticostriatal dynamics, basal ganglia pathways, and endocannabinoid modulation in habit formation. Studies also investigate Foxp2 mutations, motor learning consolidation, and two-photon imaging of neural activity in rodents.

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Control
• Thalamocortical Circuits
• +3 more

Michael Halassa is an Associate Professor in Neuroscience at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. His work focuses on understanding thalamocortical circuits and their role in cognitive functions like attention, decision-making, and psychiatric disorders. He holds dual degrees: a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Jordan (2004) and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania (2009). Research Interests: Dr. Halassa investigates how the thalamus regulates executive control, cognitive flexibility, and uncertainty processing. His lab explores neural mechanisms underlying schizophrenia, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental disorders using computational models, optogenetics, and electrophysiological techniques. Key themes include thalamic regulation of prefrontal cortex interactions, circuit dysfunction in mental illnesses, and translational approaches to restore neural connectivity. Recent Work Trends: His publications emphasize thalamic contributions to attentional control, decision-making under uncertainty, and circuit-level interventions for psychiatric conditions. Computational models link hyperactive D2 receptors to impaired belief updating in schizophrenia, while genetic studies (e.g., Shank3 mutants) reveal thalamic circuit修复 strategies. Articles highlight cross-species comparisons and clinical applications of thalamic neuroscience. Awards: No specific prizes/fellowships are listed in the provided texts. Advising/Grants: No student names or grant details were explicitly mentioned, though his research involves collaborative projects with labs studying neural circuits and psychiatric mechanisms. His work is likely funded through NIH grants and institutional support. Labs/Teams: His lab at Tufts focuses on thalamocortical systems and psychiatric disorders, employing interdisciplinary methods including electrophysiology, optogenetics, and computational modeling to dissect neural circuits underlying cognition.