Corey Harwell

Corey Harwell is a Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding neural development, particularly the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cortical circuit assembly and astrocyte-neuron interactions. He is the Principal Investigator (PI) on multiple NIH-funded grants, including studies on early life opioid exposure impacts, Sonic Hedgehog signaling in astrocyte-neuron crosstalk, and epigenetic regulation of neuronal lineage progression.

Research Interests: Dr. Harwell’s work spans neurodevelopment, neural stem cell biology, and epigenetic regulation. He explores how transcriptional and signaling pathways (e.g., Hedgehog, PRDM16) shape neuronal and glial cell fate, synaptic organization, and circuit formation. His lab investigates these processes in both rodent and human models, with a focus on translational implications for neurological disorders.

Funding & Awards: Currently leads four active NIH grants (R01DA059388, R01NS118933, R37MH119156, R01NS102228), demonstrating sustained federal support for his research programs. These grants span 2017–2028, emphasizing long-term commitment to critical developmental neuroscience questions.

Collaborations: Collaborates with leading researchers such as Arturo Alvarez-Buylla (UCSF), Arnold Kriegstein (UCSF), and Alex Pollen (UCSF), leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to study neural circuits and stem cell biology.

Publications: Has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Neuron, Cell, and Development, with notable contributions on Sonic Hedgehog signaling in astrocyte-neuron interactions and epigenetic control of cortical neuron positioning.