David Sanders

David Sanders is an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, affiliated with the School of Medicine and the Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. His research focuses on RNA/protein assemblies and their role in age-related diseases, particularly ALS and Alzheimer’s. He combines molecular biology, biophysics, and cell biology to study pathological aggregation mechanisms.

• B.S. in Neurobiology, University of Kansas (2009)
• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis (2016)
• Postdoctoral Training, Princeton University

His lab investigates how physiological liquids and pathological solids form through molecular interactions, with emphasis on:

• Tau aggregate structures causing neurodegenerative diseases
• Biomolecular condensate assembly networks
• RNA homeostasis in neuromuscular disorders
• Cryogenic techniques for cellular structure analysis

Current experimental approaches include in vitro reconstitution, mammalian cell culture, quantitative microscopy, and genomics. He collaborates with structural biologist Sarah Shahmoradian to integrate cryo-EM/ET technologies into disease research.

Lab philosophy prioritizes curiosity-driven research and open collaboration, embracing risky explorations beyond conventional frameworks. They actively recruit researchers passionate about challenging scientific dogma through interdisciplinary methods.