Bettina Winckler

Bettina Winckler is a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Virginia. She holds a PhD in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed postdoctoral work in cellular neurobiology at Columbia and Yale Universities. Her research focuses on endosomal function and dysfunction in neurons, particularly how disruptions in endolysosomal pathways contribute to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s, as well as nerve injury recovery.

• Education:
  • BA, Biology, Swarthmore College
  • PhD, Biology, MIT
  • Postdoc, Cellular Neurobiology, Columbia University
  • Postdoc, Cellular Neurobiology, Yale University

Her lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of endolysosomal trafficking in neurons, emphasizing the roles of neuronal-specific proteins like NEEP21 and the interplay between the endocytic system and cytoskeleton during axon and dendrite development. Recent work includes Rab7 dynamics in lysosomal degradation and the impact of endosomal pH collapse on neuronal signaling.

The lab’s publications highlight advanced live imaging techniques and collaborations with researchers such as C.C. Yap and C. Deppmann. Key subfields include Rab7 regulation, DCX mutations in Lissencephaly, extracellular vesicle signaling, and cytoskeletal interactions in organelle motility. These studies often link endosomal trafficking to neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative pathologies.