Andrea Hasenstaub

Andrea Hasenstaub is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the Coleman Memorial Laboratories. She holds roles as Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded projects focusing on auditory cortex function and cortical circuitry.

Education:

• BS: California Institute of Technology, Mathematics and Engineering
• M.Phil.: Cambridge University, Biological Anthropology
• PhD: Yale University, Neurobiology

Research Interests: Dr. Hasenstaub’s work centers on understanding auditory processing, inhibitory microcircuitry in the cortex, and human-specific neural specializations. Her lab uses advanced optical and genetic tools to study how cortical interneurons regulate neural activity in health and disease. Key areas include:

• Genetic and cellular mechanisms of auditory cortex dysfunction in conditions like tinnitus
• Comparative studies of cortical organization across species (mouse, human)
• Cross-modal interactions between auditory and visual systems

Grants & Funding:

• NIH R01NS116598: Cortical circuitry supporting audiovisual interactions
• NIH R01MH122478: Protocadherin regulation of interneuron survival
• NIH R01DC014101: Cortical inhibition and auditory context processing

Labs & Collaborations: Her lab collaborates with researchers like Arturo Alvarez-Buylla and Christoph Schreiner, focusing on interneuron transplantation, human brain development, and circuit dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders.