David W. Sanders

David W. Sanders is an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, joining as a tenure-track faculty member in 2023. His research focuses on RNA/protein assemblies in cellular states and their dysregulation in aging-related diseases, particularly neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. He is a member of the Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

His educational background includes:

• B.S. in Neurobiology from the University of Kansas (2009)
• Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis (2016)
• Postdoctoral training at Princeton University

Dr. Sanders' work centers on RNA/protein homeostasis, biomolecular condensates, and phase separation mechanisms in diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS. His lab employs in vitro reconstitution, mammalian cell culture, quantitative microscopy, and genomics to investigate RNA (dys)homeostasis in pathogenesis. He collaborates with Sarah Shahmoradian's structural biology lab, integrating cryo-EM/ET and cryo-CLEM technologies to target neurodegenerative diseases.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in biomolecular condensate biophysics and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. His work spans fundamental phase separation principles (nucleation, coalescence, thermodynamics) to disease-specific pathways (tau aggregation, stress granule dynamics, viral entry). Key trends include elucidating how pathological protein assemblies form and propagate, with direct therapeutic implications for tauopathies and ALS.

No scientific awards are mentioned in the provided text.

The Sanders Lab emphasizes curiosity-driven research without formal student listings in the provided materials. Their philosophy advocates rigorous hypothesis testing independent of past successes, embracing risk and open collaboration. Grant details are not specified, but the lab actively recruits researchers who share their passion for destroying dogma in neurodegenerative disease research.

The Sanders Lab (dubbed 'Shahmoranders') operates at UT Southwestern with a focus on RNA/protein aggregation models. Their collaborative framework with the Shahmoradian Lab combines cell biology approaches with advanced structural techniques to combat neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases. The lab culture prioritizes insatiable curiosity, transparent communication, and methodological flexibility to overcome scientific roadblocks.